Question

Is it permitted under Shari‘a for my father-in-law or mother-in-law to transfer wealth to my sister-in-law but not to us and to say that we will get it after their death?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are well. Thank you for your important question.

Yes, it is permissible for parents to distribute wealth before death. Legally, they are free to give away any portion of their wealth to whoever they would like, but it’s severely disliked. However, the Prophetic sunna in wealth gifting during one’s lifetime has to be done equally between the children.

Distribution of Gifting of Wealth

Some jurists are of the opinion if some children are more religious than others, it would be permissible to prefer them in gifting more than others, and if all are equal, it would be disliked preferring one over the other. But if one does not intend to harm others, there is no problem in gifting this way. Some are of the opinion; men can be given double than women. One of the wisdom in this can be seen when we realize that the financial obligations of a family are upon the man and not the woman.

Numan Ibn Bashir (Allah be pleased with him) said, “Fear Allah (Most High) and do equal treatment of women.” [Muslim] [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Your Case

In your case, you can request with wisdom and respect that they give you a portion. Maybe they are gifting your sister-in-law now as she might be in need or not get a share or a lesser one after their demise.

In matters of wealth gifting, distribution, and inheritance, it is always advised one contact a reliable local scholar as the matter is connected to our elders and parents, and there can be more detail and context to a family matter.

Given the considerations in such cases, we urge you to please consult reliable local scholars about the specifics of the situation.

Related: Transferring Property to Children in One’s Lifetime

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Is It Permissible for Parents to Distribute Wealth before Their Death? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I married a girl two months ago, and she was a virgin at the time, but I recently discovered that she has shared nude pictures with other men in the past.

She is loyal now and is not like she used to be. Can I keep this marriage going?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are well. Thank you for seeking guidance.

Yes, you should uphold your marriage, my beloved brother. May Allah (Most High) continually elevate you in sound faith, good works, and closeness with Him, amin.

Your beloved wife has committed a wrong in the past, no doubt. I am sure, and the same with you, too, that she will have repented before marriage with remorse. I sincerely advise you to refrain from holding her to task, which you haven’t, nor bring it up in the future. We are all sinners; we have our egos and desires. As long we realize and take the necessary steps, we have to move forward and have hope in Allah (Most High).

I would like to share two things, one hadith, and a report.

‘Imran Ibn Husayn reported: A woman of Juhayna came to the Prophet of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) while she was pregnant from adultery. She said, “O Prophet of Allah, I have committed a legal offense, so impose it upon me.” The Prophet called for her guardian, and he said, “Be kind to her and when she gives birth, bring her to me.” He did so, and the Prophet ordered for her shroud to be wrapped over her, then he ordered her to be stoned and prayed over her. Umar said, “Do you prayer over one who committed adultery?” The Prophet said, “She had repented with such repentance that, if it had been divided between seventy people of Medina, it would have reached beyond them. Have you found any repentance better than this, that she gave up her life for Allah Almighty?” [Muslim]

Abdullah Ibn Shumayt reported: Ayyub al-Sakhtiyani (Allah have mercy on him) said, “A man will not hit the mark, nor fulfill his manhood until he has two characteristics: Forgiving people and overlooking their faults.” [Ibn Mirzuban, al-Muru‘a]

Allah (Most High) creates the best of harmony and love between you, and may this bonding be a means of healthy, righteous children, amin.

Given the considerations in such circumstances, we urge that you consult reliable local scholars or counselors about the specifics of the problem. May Allah facilitate all ease and good for you.

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post What If My Wife Shared Her Intimate Pictures with Other Men before We Married? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًۭا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ

“O Lord, take us not to task if we forget, or make an honest mistake. O Lord, nor place upon us a binding hard burden as You did on those ever before us. Nor then requite us with what we have no strength to bear. But pardon us, forgive us, and show us bounteous mercy, You are our One Supreme Master. So give us triumph over the people of the unbelievers.” [Quran, 2:286]

This supplication closes the longest chapter of the Quran, Surat al-Baqara. It is part of the last three verses that our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, encouraged us to recite every night, and himself recited every night when he woke up for his night worship or before he went to sleep. 

They contain within them both a commitment to faith and our relationship with God, and a commitment that – سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا – “we hear and we obey.” But we also ask Allah for his mercy. These are declarations of our need and our confidence in Allah.

Mercy Is Near

We say: رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا – “O Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or we err and do not cause us to bear burdens that we cannot bear.” Why? Because it is Allah himself who teaches us that “I promise you that I will overlook your forgetting. I will overlook your errors.” That “I will not impose on you a burden that you cannot bear, but seek My mercy because it is near.” 

Then we say:  وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا – “overlook our sins.” وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا – “and forgive us.” Wipe them away. “And have great mercy upon us” – وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ – “grant us all good.” أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا – “You are our caring guardian and master.” فَٱنصُرْنَا – “So grant us victory,” عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ – “over those enemies who are out there against us.” These are the enemies from without and within: our fears and misgivings and negative self talk, all of it. We ask for victory from Allah, then we proceed with certitude.

Remember, this supplication is one about which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever recites the closing verses of Surat al-Baqara at night, there is sufficiency for them. There is reward and blessing in reciting them.” 

There is transformation and change in state and condition if we mean it, if we feel it, and if we live it. Let us be of those people.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

The post Supplication for Care, Mercy and Love: Quranic Supplications 7 appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

My mum has always struggled financially; I want to be a good practicing Muslim and get to heaven. But, at the same time, I want to be extremely wealthy.

I want to take care of my mother, get her whatever she wants, and buy her and myself enormous houses and nice cars. Are these self-fulfilling financial desires sinful if I give charity and stick to my Din?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are well.

I commend your intention for yourself and your mother.

One must understand the nature of this world, its wealth, and the purpose we are here for. Allah (Most High) created us for a purpose, and if we intend to do what Allah (Most High) wants us to do while we are in this temporary world, we have realized our purpose.

True Wealth is Contentment of the Soul

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Wealth is not in having many possessions. Rather, true wealth is the contentment of the soul.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

True Wealth is What You Consumed, Wore, and Spent in Charity

Abu Mutarrif reported:

“I came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, while he was reciting the verse, ‘Competition for wealth diverts you,’ [Quran, 102:1]. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, ‘The son of Adam boasts: My wealth! My wealth! O son of Adam, have you truly earned any wealth but what you ate and consumed, or put on and wore out, or spent in charity so it remained?’” [Muslim]

Dua

We are but just a speck in the universe; we are dependent on Allah (Most High), so we put out hopes in Him and what is best for us in this world, continue to make lofty duas to grant us what is good for us throughout our lives, to make us successful here and in the Hereafter. We may want things, but Allah (Most High), through His wisdom, knows what is good or bad for us, so we should continually make dua to Him to grant us good of this world and keep us away from the bad of it.

One of the most beautiful and most continuous of duas of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was as reported by Anas Ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reported, The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), would say:

“.رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ”

“Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and save us from the punishment of the Hellfire.” [Quran, 2:201] [Bukhari; Muslim]

Allah (Most High) has given us a dua in the Quran that should define our attitude towards this life.

I pray to Allah (Most High) to grant you what is best for you and your mother in this world and the Next, amin!

Related: What is true wealth in Islam? – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Is It Sinful to Desire Wealth While Also Practicing Religion? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Sometimes I pray ‘Asr 10-20 min before Maghrib/sunset as I leave school late. I just heard a Mufti saying that the prayer will be valid, but I’ll have to repeat it nonetheless. I don’t know how many prayers I have accumulated this way for so many years. What do I do?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

It is prohibitively disliked, and thus sinful, to perform the ‘Asr prayer of the day during the period before sunset when you can look directly at the sun without trouble. This period starts roughly 30 minutes before Maghrib time. Nonetheless, this ‘Asr prayer is valid. [Shurunbulali, Nur al-Idah]

Repeating Those Prayers

If you decide to repeat those prayers despite them being valid, you will be rewarded.

The fatwa position of most of the later scholars is that if a prayer was performed with something prohibitively disliked, it is:

• necessary (wajib) to repeat within the time; and
• not necessary to repeat after the time—but instead, it is recommended to repeat.

Of course, in the case of the ‘Asr prayer prayed during the disliked time, there is no choice except to repeat it after its time. Thus you won’t be punished for failing to repeat them. [Haskafi, al-Durr al-Mukhtar; Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiya ‘Ala Maraqi al-Falah]

And Allah knows best.
Wassalam
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Should I Repeat the Late ‘Asr Prayer That I Performed Just before Maghrib? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I recently read that if an impurity dries off the ground and no sign of it is present, then the ground is pure. I was wondering if this ruling can be applied to flooring on the second floor of a house or the third floor, such as in the bedroom.

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

Yes, if the filth on the flooring of a house’s second or third floor dries and leaves no traces, then this flooring is deemed ritually pure. You can pray on it validly. [Tahtawi, Hashiya ‘Ala Maraqi al-Falah]

The reason for this ruling is that anything affected by the filth fixed on the ground is deemed pure after drying if no traces of filth are left. [Ibid.]

This is deduced from the words of the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him: “Any ground that has dried is now pure.” [Ibn Abi Shayba]

And Allah knows best.
Wassalam
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post How Can the Flooring of a House Become Pure? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

What are the legal limits of the Sacred law regarding marital intercourse and specific sexual activities like using sex toys, anal insertion, inserting sexual objects, or the wife dominating the husband?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Sex Toys

The rulings on sex toys vary based on certain factors discussed below. However, they should never be allowed to replace normal sexual intercourse.

Anal Insertion

The anal cavity is a path of impurity. Any insertion is strictly prohibited, even if one takes steps to clean the area. If the contact is limited to the external area of the anus, such that there is no insertion – it is permitted (though discouraged) to touch that area as long as no impurities are present. [Kawthari, Islamic Guide to Sexual Relations]

This applies to a finger, a sexual toy, or other object. [Ibid.]

Exceptions are for medical treatments such as suppositories or enemas. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Inserting Sexual Objects

Please have a look at this link for details on this.

Wife Dominating the Husband

As long as the sexual activities remain within the limits of the Sacred Law, such activities would be in the realm of permissibility.

Despite this, one should strive to uphold dignity and decorum during marital relations.

Many of these abnormal sexual activities are put forth by very spiritually sick and sometimes evil people. Much of these things come from the pornography industry, which is deeply tied to sexual slavery and trafficking.

As much as is possible for us to distance ourselves from such practices and disassociate ourselves from imitating such people – we must.

General Principles

Out of everything above that is within the limits of permissibility, there still remain two conditions that apply to all the above:

• Every activity must be consensual;
• Whatever activity is done, it must not be cause of harm to either party. This is regardless of whether the harm is physical, mental, emotional, or harmful to one’s health. [Kawthari, Islamic Guide to Sexual Relations]

Summary

You correctly pointed out that many people are exposed to much of the dark and evil practices being spread in the world and that the lesser of two evils is that even if they are going to do such activities, they do them with their spouse.

This is true, but as a community (umma), we must strive to rid ourselves of such debauchery and draw nearer to the enlightened Prophetic example. This is a dictate of our faith.

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “None of you has perfect faith until their desires are in alignment with what I have brought.” [Nawawi, al-Arba‘in al-Nawawiyya]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post What Are the Rulings for Specific Sexual Activities between Married Couples? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Topics addressed include the importance of gradual study, focus, mastery, and the importance of remaining under the mentorship and consultation of one’s teachers.

Firm Foundations

Shaykh Faraz emphasizes the benefit of being firm in one’s foundations. And the foundations of the sciences are found in the concise primers made for the purpose of transmission of the science. In each of the sciences, a student of knowledge should have one book that he masters fully.

As an example in Fiqh, Shaykh Faraz mentions the four primers (mutun) of the Hanafi school: al Quduri, al Mukhtar, al Wiqaya, and al Kanz. If one has a full grasp of all the matters in either, any one of these will suffice.

Benefitting Others

The main responsibility of the student/scholar is benefitting other believers. This is why mastery is important in teaching and when giving general advice.

This is also a consideration when choosing a specialization. A true student of knowledge does not ask “What do I want?” Rather, he asks: “What does Allah want from me?” This is the basis of his decisions regarding what to do or seek. For what Allah wants from you is that which benefits both you and others.

You should also consider that the greatest number of questions that Muslims have in their daily lives are questions pertaining to Sharia. The need for scholars in communities is great. And the benefits to both students/scholars and the believers is equally great.

Understanding and Action

The fruit of understanding is that you act accordingly. That your actions reflect what you know. One who “knows” but does not act accordingly is deficient in knowledge, that is to say, he does not have true understanding.

Therefore, a true student of knowledge is known by the fact that he acts in accordance with what he knows. This does not only evince his understanding but deepens it.

These are but a few words of advice given by Shaykh Faraz to the students of Shaykh Faras and to all other students of knowledge. May Allah reward them all and benefit us through them.

The post Guidance for the Student of Knowledge appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

رَبَّنَآ أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًۭا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ

“Our Lord, pour down fortitude upon us, and make us firm, and give us triumph over the people of unbelievers.” [Quran, 2.250]

This supplication is for when we feel weak, overwhelmed, in distress. That’s where we raise our needs to Allah. We seek our strength from the Giver of strength. We realize that we have no ability and no power whatsoever except through Allah, except through our Lord – لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّٰهِ.

So what do we do? We turn in supplication. Supplication expresses both our need and our certitude. “Call upon Allah with certitude in His answer,” says the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace. We supplicate not only for desired outcomes, whether of this life or the next, but also to facilitate the means to attain what we seek. 

And Make our Feet Firm

One of the greatest means is sabr – fortitude, steadfastness, patience. This term is used differently in the Quran. Sometimes it just means patience. Here it means: “O Lord, pour down upon us great fortitude.” This is active strength. Patience is not to be passive. Patience is to be firm on what is pleasing to Allah. O Lord, Grant us to be firm and strong on what is pleasing to you, on the good that I seek, in this life or the next, and to stand up for what is right.

“And make our feet firm” – وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا. Make us steadfast. Grant us victory over those that have enmity with us. Then we chart out the path of pursuing the good, realizing that we are not weak. If we seek through Allah we can be confident to take those difficult steps that we know we need to take and that victory comes from Allah. 

Now, how victory is manifest in your life is not up to you. That is granted by Allah. But we find out what is the right thing to do. We are strong on that thing. And take the steps knowing that we’ve asked Allah to make our feet firm on that. Knowing that the ultimate success is not fleeting attainments in this life, but rather attaining the eternal good in the next.

This is a beautiful supplication to fortify ourselves with, in our life and in our religion, and to dispel our worries and concerns.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

The post Supplication for Strength and Victory: Quranic Supplications 6 appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

When and how many times a day did the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) eat?

What kind of food and drinks did the Prophet (peace be upon him) consume?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

There is not much information regarding the number of times the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) took meals.

It is evident from the Prophetic biography that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) ate little. He would go many days without any food. Often he would discover that there was no food in his home, and he would intend fasting.

Likewise, narrations about the times of the day that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) ate are hard to come by.

Why Not Much Detail?

It is likely that these details are few and far between because the food was not a large part of the life of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) and those of his companions as compared to our time.

In short, they ate to live and did not live to eat.

Eating More than Once a Day

It is a likely estimate that the majority of the time, when the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) had food available and ate, he would eat only once a day.

It is narrated from our mother ‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) that she said, “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) saw me eating twice in a day and said, ‘O ‘Aisha, you have taken the worldly life as your stomach. Eating more than once a day is wasting, and Allah loves not the wasters.’” [Suyuti, Jam‘u al-Jawami‘; Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab al-Iman]

What Foods and Drinks Did He Eat?

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) had an exemplary diet. Much of his diet has been formed into a science called Prophetic Medicine or al-Tibb al-Nabawi.

• Various types of meats and fish.
• A multitude of fruits and vegetables: Some of which are; Dates, Figs, Grapes, Milk, Honey, Olive Oil, Vinegar, Watermelon, Barley, Pumpkin, squash, and any other vegetables.
• Various types of bread and grains: The majority type of bread eaten by the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) was barley bread that had not been sifted prior to baking. He would also eat barley, wheat, and other grains in various styles of cooking, such as soups.
• Various types of drinks: Milk (note that the Prophet did eat cheese as well), Nabidh (water with various fruits soaked therein, but not till fermentation), Water,  and Honey (Arabs consider honey a drink).

More Details

The blessed work of Imam al-Tirmidhi (Allah have mercy on him), titled al-Shama’il al-Tirmidhiyya, is one of the foremost works on the specific details of the Prophetic life.

He has an entire section based upon the foods and drinks that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) partook in.

Related:
The Book of Eating – Adab of Eating – The Revival Circle – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani [Video]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post What Did the Prophet (Allah Bless Him and Give Him Peace) Eat, When, and How Many Times a Day? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I would like to know the duties of a woman towards her husband’s parents. I live with my in-laws, and in my husband’s family, the wives are supposed to live a life how their mother-in-law wants. I would like to know the Shafi‘i school’s rulings regarding this. I have seen women being servants of the mother-in-law, so committed to the household, and having no other dreams of their own. It suffocates me that a girl has to be on duty throughout the day, serving everyone at home.

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for your patience and for seeking your rights through Islam.

Good Character

A Muslim woman has obligations toward her husband and will be accountable for them on the Day of judgment. Regarding her in-laws, she is obliged to treat them as she should any other Muslim. She should be kind, charitable, honest, and patient with them and understand that her husband is a part of them and that what affects them affects him. In this light, she should do her best with them, and in the long run, it will also serve her interests.

Remember the importance of good character. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Nothing is placed on the Scale that is heavier than good character. Indeed the person with good character will have attained the rank of the person of fasting and prayer.” [Tirmidhi]

Please see the details here:
Is It Obligatory for a Woman to Look After Her In-Laws?
What Are My Rights When Living with My In-Laws?

Living Together

Living with your in-laws is no reason to let your dreams be dashed. There is no obligation to serve them all day. If that is the tradition in your husband’s family, you should be the first to implement change, especially if your aim is the pleasure of Allah Most High. I highly recommend that you have this conversation with your husband, as he is the authority in your life, not his mother. Taking care of one’s parents is the job of the child, not the daughter-in-law. The best way is the middle way. Serve them in a balanced way that makes everyone happy.

Tell him that you want to study or work part-time or do courses on the side. Or that you want to eventually start your own business, or that you want to spend more time outdoors. Pursue whatever your passion is. You may want to consider planning for a child. Pursuing an interest beyond domestic duties will make you a more interesting person in your marriage and will ensure that you don’t stop developing your mind, skills, and character.

Moving Out

You should eventually make a plan to live separately from your in-laws as this is your right in Islam, and it will be easier on everyone as your family grows. Meanwhile, be constant in your prayers, and read the Quran with the meaning and presence of heart. Turn to Allah in your difficulties and channel your suffering and complaints into dua to Him, for He can solve all problems.

Reward

Remember the reward of your patience: The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The believer who mixes with people and bears their annoyance with patience will have a greater reward than the believer who does not mix with people and does not put up with their annoyance.” [Ibn Majah]

And strive to follow this prophetic model: It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, what type of wife is best? He said (Allah bless him and give him peace), ‘The one who makes (her husband) happy when he looks at her, and she obeys him if he instructs her to do something, and she does not do anything concerning herself or his wealth in a manner of which he does not approve.’” [Ahmad]

Please see these links as well:
Is It Permissible to Live Separately From In-Laws?|
My Husband Keeps Forcing me to Serve his Mother

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post What Are Muslim Women’s Duties to Her In-Laws When They Live Together? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

The post Would This Non-alcoholic Craft Beer Be Lawful? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I am a Turkish brother who recently took the college entrance exam and will most likely study to be a marine captain. This work demands at least four months of travel. So I wanted to know if there was any ruling about salah, fasting, or other things I should know.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

There are no rulings particular to Sea Captains per se, only those that pertain to any Muslim traveling by sea. Such rulings have to do with prayer and purification, even though many other issues may generally fall into this question.

Prayer at Sea

Standing in the Prayer:

When praying on a boat, standing for the prayer may be difficult. Whether sailing in the sea or docked in turbulent waters, one is permitted to pray sitting if it is difficult to stand without falling or one becomes dizzy when attempting to stand. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Note that one still performs prostration on the ground, not merely with head gestures. This person is still permitted to lead the prayer. [Ibid.]

If the boat is docked in calm waters and able to exit the boat to the dock, it is incumbent to exit the boat and perform the prayer on the ground. [Ibid.]

Direction of the Prayer (Qibla):

It is incumbent on those praying in a boat to face the direction of prayer (Qibla). If the boat turns from the Qibla, one turns their direction to remain facing the Qibla. [Ibid.]

Praying in Congregation:

It is permissible to pray in the congregation on the boat as long as all parties are on the same boat. If two boats are tied to one another, these two boats have the ruling of one boat, and the passengers of each can pray together. [Ibid.]

If, however, they are not tied together, prayer in the congregation between the passengers of each boat is impermissible. [Ibid.]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post Are There Any Rulings Unique to Sea Captains in the Sacred Law? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

The post Is Medical Treatment between Opposite Genders Permissible? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

The post Should I Pay Fidya (Fasting-Penalty) Again? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

The post Are Zakat Committees Permissible? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

The post Is It Permissible to Play Games Involving False Gods? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Trust in (a.k.a reliance on) Allah Most High is a direct result of one’s certainty in the fact that Allah Most High is the Only Provider and the Only Withholder; the Only Giver of harm and the Only Giver of benefit; and the Only One in whom the creation should put their hope. [Muhasibi, Adab al-Nufus]

True Reliance and Trust

Imam Harith al-Muhasibi mentions the following:

“The one who is true in his reliance upon Allah does not find his heart humbled for any created being. This is because his heart is filled with trust in Allah’s guarantee.  The one who is true in his reliance sees even the small blessings of Allah as being great due to his knowledge of the greatness of Allah Most High.” [Ibid.]

“Thus, (…) his heart is so at peace that he does not see any blessing in the heavens or the earth except that it is from Allah.” [Ibid.]

Related:
How Can Someone Always Have Trust In Allah?
How Can I Stay Positive and Trust in Allah in Difficult Times? (Video)

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post What Motivates a Person to Always Trust Allah’s Plan? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

What does it mean to say that Allah won’t let you down?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

When someone is saying, “Allah won’t let you down,” they are essentially instilling hope and a good opinion of Allah in the heart of the one being spoken to.

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) narrates that Allah Most High said, “I am as my servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me.” [Ahmad]

A Prophetic Example

An example of this statement from the Prophetic biography is the response of Our Mother Khadija (Allah be pleased with her) when the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) returned from the Cave of Hira.

After the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) expressed his concerns after receiving revelation for the first time, Sayyida Khadija said, “Nay, by Allah! Allah will never disgrace you. You join family ties, speak the truth, bear burdens, help the poor, treat well the guests, and help in hardships of truth.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post What Does It Mean to Say That Allah Won’t Let You Down? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

If someone hears sinful speech, such as backbiting, slander, gossip, and so on, but does not speak out against it, must they speak well of and make dua for the one being spoken about?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

All that is sinful to say is sinful to listen to. If one hears sinful speech, the following steps must be taken:

• One must object to the speech with their tongue;
• If they fear that this will cause reciprocal harm or make the matter worse, they will object to it with their heart;
• However, in the latter case, if they are able to get up and leave or interrupt the speech and change the subject, it is necessary for them to do so. [Nahlawi, al-Durar al-Mubaha]

Expiating for Sinful Listening

Aside from the above legal steps to absolve oneself of the sin of sinful speech, a higher standard would dictate defending the person.[Ibid.]

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever defends the honor of his brother, Allah will defend from his face the Fire on the Day of Judgment.” [Tirmidhi]

It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Most High) stood up to pray and asked, “Where is Malik bin Dukhsham?” So a Bedouin man said, “He is a hypocrite who doesn’t love Allah and His Messenger.” The Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Don’t say that! Have you not seen that he testified saying, ‘There is no god except Allah’ seeking Allah’s countenance thereby!? Indeed, Allah has forbidden the Fire for anyone who says ‘There is no god except Allah’ seeking His countenance thereby.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

Repentance

Regarding backbiting and slander, if the backbiting hasn’t reached the person being spoken of, it is sufficient to repent via remorse and seeking Allah’s forgiveness. [Nahlawi, al-Durar al-Mubaha]

This applies to the one who committed the backbiting and the listener (who didn’t object). [Ibid.]

Regarding gossip, one should not relay what was said to anyone to stop the gossip’s spread. [Bin Tahir, Sullam al-Tawfiq]

In all cases, if one did not take the above steps to absolve them of the sin, one must repent to Allah (Most High) sincerely.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post What Should One Do If They Hear Sinful Listening, Such as Backbiting? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I’ve had irregular bowel movements for about two years, and as a result, I’ve developed an overwhelming fear and phobia of breaking wudu every time I pray salat. I’m having difficulty sustaining my wudu and even finishing one prayer since I’m experiencing severe fireworks and powerful physical movements in my back passage, such as bubbles, movements, wind exiting in small quantities, etc.

I continue to do wudu, maybe 4 or 5 times to complete 2 or 4 Raka‘at. It’s been exhausting, and I keep thinking Allah is angry with me and has taken away my salat, causing me even more anguish and concern.

I’d be grateful if you could provide Sharia Islamic guidelines and rulings on how to maintain my wudu and salat.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question and for seeking guidance.

I want to suggest you do the following:

Say the ta‘awwudh, which is:

“أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ”

(I seek refuge in Allah from the rejected devil)

Make dua abundantly when anxious before prayer.  You can also recite Surat al-Nas, a Sura and dua, for protection against misgivings. Also, keep your tongue moist with this dua:

“.اَللّٰھُمَّ اجْعَلْ وَسَاوِسَ قَلْبِیْ خَشْیَتَکَ وَ ذِکْرَکَ وَاجْعَلْ ھِمَّتِیْ وَھَوَایٰ فِیْمَـا تُـحِبُّ وَ تَرْضٰی”

(O Allah! Render the thoughts and inclinations within my heart, to be Your fear and remembrance, and let my endeavor and desire be devoted to what You love and are pleased with) [Daylami, Musnad al-Firdaws]

Set a time limit to perform wudu and stick to them: 1 shower a day for 5 minutes max,  wudu per prayer for 1 minute maximum (5 seconds on each limb), 10 seconds for washing your hands maximum, and so on. Once the timer is up, you stop the action, assume wudu, and move on.

Do not look back. Go straight into your prayer after wudu, or continue with your day. In other words, busy yourself and your mind before Shaytan tries to take over.

Trust in Allah that your wudu and prayer are accepted. Remember that the companions also suffered from misgivings, and they challenged and continued because the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said they (misgivings)are clear and pure faith.

May Allah help you in your time of difficulty, cure you of your misgivings, and give you – and all of us – good health. Do not worry; in time, you will be relieved from the whisperings in sha’ Allah.

Read and watch the following links and sign up for this course: Satanic Tactics: Seven Tricks of the Devil.

Allah Is Not Upset with You

I would advise you to continue working on increasing your acts of worship, religious knowledge, and the dhikr of Allah.

Don’t focus on your current condition of excessive doubts and actions, but focus on Allah the Exalted and how much he has given to you. Be happy and thankful, and invest your time in praising Allah for his favors upon you and sending salawat on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).

And when difficulties come – and as long as we live in this world, we will find problems – realize that they are from Allah, and don’t dwell upon why they’re there, but on how you can get past them with excellence. Be ever grateful because passing such trials with patience and thankfulness will increase your rank with Allah.

As you have excessive flatulence and regular bowel movements, seek medical help and avoid foods that generate this type of condition.

Related:

• Prayer Reader: The Ultimate Guide To Prayer in Islam
• Devil’s Tricks – The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained
• Doubts – IPD Session #3 | COJ – an ISIP Youth Chapter Initiative
• The Application of Islamic Psychotherapy for the Treatment of OCD
• Key Principles Relating to Certainty, Doubt, and Baseless Misgivings (waswasa)
• A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings) (seekersguidance.org)
• The Application of Islamic Psychotherapy for the Treatment of OCD
• Satanic Tactics: Seven Tricks of the Devil
• Being Balanced – Emotional and Mental Health
• How Does One Perform The Prayer Of Need (Salat al-haja)?

Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post How Can I Get Rid of My Doubts about Purity and Prayer? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Whenever I perform wudu or start praying, I get anxious about the discharge of wind. I feel something coming out; I cannot focus on salat properly. Sometimes I repeat salat. It makes me more anxious and depressed. What should I do? It only happens whenever I try to pray. Please help me out.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question and for seeking guidance.

I want to suggest you do the following:

Say the ta‘awwudh, which is:

“أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ”

(I seek refuge in Allah from the rejected devil)

Make dua abundantly when anxious before prayer.  You can also recite Surat al-Nas, a Sura and dua, for protection against misgivings. Also, keep your tongue moist with this dua:

“.اَللّٰھُمَّ اجْعَلْ وَسَاوِسَ قَلْبِیْ خَشْیَتَکَ وَ ذِکْرَکَ وَاجْعَلْ ھِمَّتِیْ وَھَوَایٰ فِیْمَـا تُـحِبُّ وَ تَرْضٰی”

(O Allah! Render the thoughts and inclinations within my heart, to be Your fear and remembrance, and let my endeavor and desire be devoted to what You love and are pleased with) [Daylami, Musnad al-Firdaws]

Set a time limit to perform wudu and stick to them: 1 shower a day for 5 minutes max,  wudu per prayer for 1 minute maximum (5 seconds on each limb), 10 seconds for washing your hands maximum, and so on. Once the timer is up, you stop the action, assume wudu, and move on.

Do not look back. Go straight into your prayer after wudu, or continue with your day. In other words, busy yourself and your mind before Shaytan tries to take over.

Trust in Allah that your wudu and prayer are accepted. Remember that the companions also suffered from misgivings, and they challenged and continued because the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said they (misgivings)are clear and pure faith.

May Allah help you in your time of difficulty, cure you of your misgivings, and give you – and all of us – good health. Do not worry; in time, you will be relieved from the whisperings in sha ‘Allah.

Read and watch the following links and sign up for this course: Satanic Tactics: Seven Tricks of the Devil.

Related:

• Prayer Reader: The Ultimate Guide To Prayer in Islam
• Devil’s Tricks – The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained
• Doubts – IPD Session #3 | COJ – an ISIP Youth Chapter Initiative
• The Application of Islamic Psychotherapy for the Treatment of OCD
• Key Principles Relating to Certainty, Doubt, and Baseless Misgivings (waswasa)
• A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings) (seekersguidance.org)
• The Application of Islamic Psychotherapy for the Treatment of OCD
• Satanic Tactics: Seven Tricks of the Devil
• Being Balanced – Emotional and Mental Health

Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post How Can I Remove Anxiety about Passing Wind during Salat? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I’d like clarification regarding enjoining good and forbidding the evil with hand, tongue, and heart and for non-Muslims in regard to this answer.

Hand, tongue, and heart are not mentioned and it says one’s motivation to correct others should be sincere love and care for one’s BRETHREN.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

The answer cited covers the main details of forbidding evil and commanding good in light of the question.

The term brethren refer to our brothers and sisters in humanity in a general sense and fellow Muslims in a more specific sense. In all it encompasses everyone. However, the manifestation of sincere counsel and forbidding evil and commanding good may differ between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Whoever Sees a Wrong, Let Him Change It…

Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that  the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “Whoever amongst you sees a wrong, let them change it with their hand; if he is unable, then with their tongue; if he is unable, then with his heart – and that is the weakest of faith.” [Muslim]

From this narration the scholars derived the ruling that if one is able to stop a sinful act, it is a communal obligation for one amongst them to do so. If only one person has the ability to change the wrong, the obligation falls on them personally. [Munawi, Sharh al-Arbai‘in al-Nawawiyya]

Changing with the hand is the most effective approach. For example, to step in between two people who are fighting. The scholars mention that if the only way a change can result is by physical intervention, it becomes an obligation. [Ibid.]

If one is unable to intervene physically, they may be able to shout for the person to cease fighting or to call to someone who can stop them. [Ibid.]

If one is even unable to do that, they should object in their heart and absolve themselves of any affiliation with that sin. [Ibid.]

In summary, it is a communal obligation, when the following conditions are met, to change a wrong with whichever method that is possible. [Ibid.]

Conditions of Changing the Wrong

• That the one who is objecting to the wrong is reasonably sure that by objecting the wrongdoer will not increase in rebellion.
• That the objection will not cause more harm than it seeks to solve.
• That the wrong being objected to must be unanimously considered a sin amongst all the scholars (of all schools of thought).
• That there is no reciprocal harm feared on the one objecting. [Ibid.]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post Can You Clarify the Criteria for Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Is it permissible for a woman to recite the Quran aloud or read a translation of the Quran and study the tafsir while on her menses? Can she also enter the masjid and sit in the place of prayer? What is both the Hanafi and Shafi‘i viewpoint?

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for your care and concern to do what is right, especially during this blessed month.

Worship during Menses

In the Reliance of the Traveller, it says:

All things unlawful for someone in minor ritual impurity are also unlawful for someone in a state of major ritual impurity (N: or menstruation). In addition, it is likewise unlawful for such a person:

1. to remain in a mosque;
2. or to recite any of the Koran, even part of a single verse, though it is permissible to use its invocations (dhikr) when the intention is not Koran recital (O: such as saying in disasters, “Surely we are Allah’s, and unto Him we will return,” and the like). If one intends Koran recital, it is disobedience, but if one intends it primarily as invocation (dhikr), or as nothing in particular, it is permissible.

It is permissible to pass through a mosque (A: though not to enter and leave by the same door (Ar. taraddud), which is unlawful) when one is in a state of major ritual impurity, but this is offensive when there is no need.

Please see these links as well for the Hanafi point of view:

• Rulings Related to the Quran and a Woman in the State of Menstruation.
• Acts Prohibited During Menstruation and Their Proofs
• Entering a mosque during menses
• Can I Recite Qur’an During Menstruation?
• Why Can’t A Menstruating Woman Touch the Qur’an? Islam’s Perspective on Menstruation

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post Can a Woman Do These Acts of Worship during Her Menses? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Can a non-mahram live on rent in our house?

Answer

Thank you for your question.

I assume you are talking about a family living in a house, and a non-mahram man would rent the basement or a bedroom.

It is permissible for a non-mahram to rent a room in your house or the basement as long as there is no khalwa between him and a woman. It can be very difficult if there is no separate entrance, and the women will have to cover and take precautions around the house. It would not be a desirable situation, but doable if both parties understand what is right and wrong.

Please see these links for more details:
Living with Non-Mahram Male Relatives
Hadith About Seclusion (khalwa) and Unmarriageable Kin (mahram)
Is It Permissible for Me to Stay in a Flat With My Brother’s Wife If a Child Is With Us?
What Is the Meaning of Khalwa (Seclusion) with the Opposite Gender?

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post Can a Non-mahram Live on Rent in Our House? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I am a 15-year-old who recently fell in love with a Christian girl. She has good character and believes in God. I have talked to her a few times on social media but have since realized that it is immoral because things can go out of hand. My only intention is to marry her with Allah’s blessing. I want to talk to her in person in public so we don’t do anything immoral.

Am I allowed to talk to her or not? I have watched countless videos about this and have concluded that 1) I should not talk to her in seclusion, 2) no flirting 3) no touching. Please help.

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for pristine and pure intention regarding this girl, and may He facilitate the best for you when the time is right.

Your Obligations

Allah Most High refers to marriage as “a solemn covenant” [Quran, 4:21], and it is a contract in which both parties have rights and obligations.

The first step that one should take before marriage does not include talking to the girl that one has chosen. One should first take a course on marriage in Islam, as it is obligatory to know the rights of both parties before entering a marriage contract. One also must review or learn one’s personally obligatory fiqh beforehand.

After that, one must be in a financial position to support her, providing her with shelter, food, clothing, and all the other things that are due from him.

Additionally, he must seek permission from her father, as it is superior to speak to him first before getting to know her, and it is a great blessing and relief to get the permission of one’s own parents as well.

These are just a few of the steps that are needed before marriage, and I encourage you to fulfill these before you go ahead.

Please see these links for the resources you need.

Course Suggestions:
Marriage in Islam: Practical Guidance for Successful Marriage
Making Love Last: Prophetic Principles for a Successful Marriage

Choice of Spouse

As for choosing which girl to pursue, I would suggest you pray istikhara on the matter, but only after you have fulfilled the above requirements. I also urge you to follow the advice of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), who said, “A woman is married for four things: for her wealth, for her lineage, for her beauty or for her piety. Select the pious, may you be blessed!“ [Bukhari; Muslim] Ask yourself if you are choosing this girl because she is good for your religion and will make an excellent mother, role model, and teacher for your children or whether it is for another reason.

I advise you to keep in mind this advice of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) until you do marry, “Marriage is part of my sunna, and whoever does not follow my sunna has nothing to do with me. Get married, for I will boast of your great numbers before the nations. Whoever has the means, let him get married, and whoever does not, then he should fast, for it will diminish his desire.” [Ibn Majah]

Please See These Resources as Well

Answer Suggestions:
Istikhara Prayer
In Love but Too Young to Marry
How to Explain the Advantages of Marrying Young to My Family?
Love, Marriage, and Relationships in Islam: All Your Questions Answered

Article Suggestions:
What Makes A Marriage Work – Shaykh Hamza Yusuf
25 Years’ Worth of Marriage Advice: Hina Khan-Mukhtar

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post How Should I Approach a Christian Girl for Marriage as I Am 15 Years Old? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I paid zakat in advance for tens of thousands of pounds over many years to meet my brother’s requirements when he was a university student. My purpose at the moment of giving was to pay zakat.

However, I didn’t specify the year for which the zakat was given, and my purpose at the time of giving was that ‘this is my zakat which I owe from the past, or that which I presently owe, and if there is none currently owed, then it is zakat in preparation for the future.’

According to one of your recent answers, the year of zakat must be specified. I’m worried since I didn’t specify the year when I paid my zakat. Was the zakat I paid valid?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

Your zakat has to be specified and intended so the money can be separate from the charity (sadaqa). In your case, you did specify your zakat but not the year. You will now jog your memory and look into your accounts to see how much Zakat you owed in the previous years or owe now to ensure you fulfilled your due Zakat liability for each year.

You should settle the zakat balance and the deficit that remains outstanding. If one has given more, the excess is considered a charity (sadaqa). However, in your case, when you gave it, you intended the excess to be advanced payment of future Zakat, which is also valid to do. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Read the links below to gain a deeper understanding of the issue:
Zakat: A Comprehensive SeekersGuidance Reader
Is It Permissible to Give Zakat in Advance?

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersAcademy?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Is It Necessary to Specify If One Is Paying Zakat for Past, Current, or Future Years? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I am confused about the lawfulness of alcohol in cosmetic products and medicine. There are conflicting answers on the SeekersGuidance website. My questions are:

1. Are cosmetic products and medicine treated differently as far as alcohol presence is concerned?

2. If so, if wearing cosmetics with alcohol, should one avoid lipstick (risk of swallowing) or kissing skin that has such a product applied to it?

3. Does the Hanafi school distinguish between ethanol and other types of alcohol, e.g., cetearyl or benzyl?

4. Due to not knowing the source/production method of ingredients, may I assume all cosmetic products and medicine containing forms of ethanol, cetearyl, and benzyl or just saying “alcohol” are halal? Is any ingredient a red flag?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

According to reputable Muftis and Scholars, the fatwa in our day is that synthetic alcohol, as well as all alcohol that is not regarded as “khamr,” is pure (tahir) and permissible to use and consume as long as:

• it is not used as an intoxicant;
• it is not used as intoxicant as used (i.e., for alcoholic consumption, even a little);
• it is not used in an amount that intoxicates;
• it is not used in vain (lahw).

Answer 1

Alcohol in Cosmetic Products

It is permitted to use deodorants and creams containing alcohol, as it is invariably synthetic alcohol and not the khamr (wine) that is absolutely impermissible and filthy.

Alcohol in Medicine

In general, it is permitted to consume non-wine alcohol as long as (1) it is not used as an intoxicant, (2) it is not used as intoxicants are used, (3) it is not used in an amount which intoxicates, and (4) it is not used in vain.

If there are alternatives, one should first look to other options to avoid the difference of opinion on the issue.

Answer 2

Kissing someone with this type of lipstick would be permissible, as it is not used as an intoxicant. However, it would be best to avoid and use an alternative lipstick that does not have any of these ingredients, especially if one falls into misgivings.

Answer 3

Ethanol and Methanol are both types of Alcohol.

Ethanol is found in alcoholic beverages but synthetic in nature, and not the khamr (wine) made from grapes and dates. In comparison, methanol is toxic and used for industrial purposes.

Benzyl Alcohol

Benzyl alcohol, the aromatic alcohol, also goes by a few other names, such as benzene methanol or phenylcarbinol. It’s derived from fruit, usually, cranberries and apricots, etc., comes in the form of a colorless liquid, and has a slightly sweet scent. As a multifunctional ingredient, you can spot benzyl alcohol on the ingredient label of many different skincare, cosmetic, and personal products, such as moisturizers, lip balms, face washes, and even makeup.

Ceterayl Alcohol

Cetearyl alcohol is a chemical found in cosmetic products. It’s a white, waxy mixture of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol, both fatty alcohols. They’re found in animals and plants, like coconut and palm oil. They can also be made in a laboratory.

They’re used in personal care products, mainly skin lotions, hair products, and creams. They help create smoother creams, thicker lotions, and more stable foam products.

Answer 4

You can assume all cosmetic products and medicine containing forms of ethanol, cetearyl, and benzyl halal. However, to avoid differences of opinion, finding an alternative, or falling into misgivings, one is advised to move away from using these products. [Taqi Usmani, Qadaya Fiqhiyya al-Muʿasara, Fiqh al-Buyu’]

In summary, if any of the above ingredients make you fall into intrusive thoughts and doubts, move away from them for a bit or all together and find alternative products. However, one has to follow the majority of Muslims, and when you see righteous scholars and Muslims using these products that have the above ingredient, it should assure you that you should not worry at all.

Related:

• Cosmetics Archives
• Is It Permissible to Use Medicine With Haram Ingredients?
• Can I Use Polyethylene, Propylene glycol, Ethanol, and Methanol?
• Devil’s Tricks – The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained [Video]
• Doubts – IPD Session #3 | COJ – an ISIP Youth Chapter Initiative
• The Application of Islamic Psychotherapy for the Treatment of OCD
• Key Principles Relating to Certainty, Doubt, and Baseless Misgivings (waswasa)
• A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings)
• Satanic Tactics: Seven Tricks of the Devil

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersAcademy?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post What Is the Ruling on Alcohol in Cosmetics, Shampoo, and Medicine? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Would Allah bless our marriage if I married the man with whom I had committed fornication and repented?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question and concern about your marriage, overall life, and religion.

It is good you married the man you loved despite committing wrongdoing before marriage. There is no better solution than marriage, and you married him. Take comfort from the words of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).

Marriage Is Best for Those Who Love Each Other

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “We do not see for those who love one another anything like marriage.” [Ibn Majah]

Do Not Despair

Allah Most High says, “Say, (O Prophet, that Allah says,) ‘O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Quran, 39:53]

Moving On in Life

One of the most excellent ranks in Islam is the rank of the remorseful. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “All of the children of Adam are prone to error (or sin), and the best of those who err (or sin) are those who constantly repent.” [Tirmidhi]

After establishing the rank of the one who turns aside from sin and turns to Allah Most High – one should not be despondent about not hoping for a good marriage and life.

May Allah Most High bless your marriage and be a means for healthy and righteous children, amin

Related:
Repentance from Fornication
Will the Consequences of Fornication Affect One Who Has Repented?
Hope and Despair – Birgivi’s The Path of Muhammad Explained [Video]
Repentance from Fornication
Prayer of Repentance: Salat al-Tawba

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersAcademy?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Would We Still Be Blessed If We Committed Fornication before Marriage? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I sniffed solidified mucus (i.e., snot) from my nose, which went directly down my throat/entered my mouth and was intentionally swallowed. Is it going to break my fast?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

Solidified mucus and snot are considered unavoidable substances and do not invalidate one’s fast, even if done intentionally. This is because one is not entering anything into the body cavity, which would break the fast.

However, one should avoid this from happening and spit it out.

What are Unavoidable Substances?

This applies to things one cannot guard oneself against, and if one were to do so, it would entail unbearable hardship.

Unavoidable Substances

Examples include:

•  Water that remains in the mouth and nose from wudu.
•  Possible dampness when one is showering.
•  Mucus.
•  Snot.
•  Saliva.
•  Saliva that may end up on the lips from talking.
•  Bugs and flies.
•  Dust.
•  Smog from the traffic.
•  Flour from a flour mill.
•  What may be in the air when working as a construction worker.

The examples above are not exhaustive of what can be considered an unavoidable substance. [‘Ala’uddin Ibn ‘Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-‘Ala’iyya]

Related:

• Does Swallowing Mucus Invalidate My Fast?
• Fasting: A Comprehensive SeekersGuidance Reader
• A Ramadan Reader: A Comprehensive Answers Guide to Getting the Most Out of Ramadan
• The Complete Guide to Fasting
• Principles on what invalidates the fast
• Key Principles Relating to Certainty, Doubt, and Baseless Misgivings (waswasa)
• A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings)

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance, such as:
Ramadan Explained (Hanafi)
Shurunbulali’s Ascent to Felicity

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Does Intentionally Swallowing a Solid Mucus That Enters One’s Throat Invalidate Fast? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

The post How Does Incest Impact One’s Marriage in the Shafi’i School? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

SM: We should define evil technically. In the Sharia evil is defined as disobedience of Allah that is not followed by repentance. That is so important to limit it because evil in the eyes of people is just a synonym for pain.

They use evil as a synonym for pain which they don’t understand. Everybody can understand the concept. You can cause pain to happen to somebody and because you know that the future is better with this pain nobody considers it evil.

Nobody considers a parent evil if they say no to eating sweets in excess. Or if he forces his kids to study and gets him a tutor and makes him do math. A doctor is not evil if they open up a kid or stitch them up. Yet those are things that are extremely painful. The reason is that we understand and we see with our own two eyes that this is better for us.

Now the whole leap, whether it’s a difficulty of the Sharia, or the difficulty of an event that occurs to us, is believing that this is good for you while not seeing it. Not being able to see the good or not understanding how this is good.

Live Life as a Mystery

In fact I actually, personally, enjoy that because it’s a mystery. I don’t like to watch a movie that I know the ending to. I’m not even really interested if I know what the ending is. So the real mystery of life is to accept everything that happens that’s bad in the way that the Sharia requires us to accept it.

The Sharia may say fight back. The Sharia may say accept it. But you have a belief that there’s going to be some amazing goodness that comes out of this. Now, you’re living life as a mystery. And you can only connect the dots later on. So you can say: “Oh, that’s why this happened.”

There is this factor that Allah tries to bring out of us which is the tasbih – which is the amazement. Why would you deprive yourself of this? So a bad thing happens, whatever the reason be, you wait a little bit.

Grow In Faith

Sometimes, I think, when people have weak faith, Allah gives it to them right away. But as you mature and you become stronger the wisdom comes thirty years later because he’s strong enough, he’s mature enough with Allah to know: “Yes, that was painful. I don’t know the reason.”

But we will someday know the reason that this happened. It increases your awe in the Creator and it gives life some mystery. Rather than: “I want to know the ending.” I’m not watching the movie until I know the ending. You’re missing out on life.

All the joy of life is that everything is unfolding. Every mystery is unfolding for us. And the only way you could do that is really, what you said earlier on, is to accept it as a believer. If you accept it as a disbeliever you will not see it.

Gain Perspective

In this subject of evil, in the subject of science, they say: “Seeing is believing” because you got to do the demonstration. – Mix blue and yellow and produce green. I have to see it first before I believe it. – In faith and in evil it’s believing first, then, you will see the truth. You will see the wisdom. But you have to believe first. 

SFR: Which is why the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, said: 

تَعَرَّفْ إلَى اللَّهِ فِي الرَّخَاءِ يَعْرِفُك فِي الشِّدَّةِ

“Come to know Allah when times are easy and He will know you when times are difficult.” [Nawawi 19]

Meaning He will grant you that ease of having clarity and certitude when things are difficult. When somebody finds that difficulty or distress, whether in life or related to some religious test, there’s something very difficult before them, taking that time to cultivate one’s faith helps give one perspective.

The Reality of Divine Mercy

Spend some time. Come to know Allah Most High rather than dealing with what happened. Take a moment to think about who Allah is. Learn a little bit about His mercy. Learn a little bit about the Names of Allah.

Even the things that the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, told us to recite daily – all of them. One of the key emphases in it is to appreciate the reality of Divine Mercy. What do you recite in the prayer? The Fatiha.

One of the key themes in it is the mention of Divine Mercy. Allah being the caring, sustaining, nurturing, Lord of all that exists – encompassingly Merciful, the particularly Merciful. The keys to being able to put evil or tests and difficulties in perspective are in the things that we’re supposed to say and do daily.

Seek Refuge in Allah

Most practicing Muslims know that morning and night we’re supposed to say the three Quls. There’s no surprise in it. We know both from Surat al Falaq and from Surat al Nas that Allah is the creator of evil. He tells us that:

مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ

We seek refuge in Allah from all the evil that He has created. [Quran 113:2]

Therein is the wisdom of evil – that Allah has created it. So, “Will you return to me?”

“I seek refuge in Allah.” What is seeking refuge? You go to what you seek refuge in. A refugee goes somewhere. That’s one of the key wisdoms in it. That’s why, if you look back on your life, rarely are blessings what caused a transformation in your relationship with Allah. Typically it is some test, some difficulty, that causes you to return to Allah.

The post Evil and Pain Are Not Synonymous appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

The post Is it Permissible to Do Facial Exercises? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

The post What is Extravagance (Israf) in a Wedding Celebration? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةًۭ وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ

“Our Lord, give us in this world mighty good, and in the next world mighty good, and protect us from the chastisement of the Fire.” [Quran, 2:201]

This is a beautiful supplication in Surat al-Baqara. Many of us probably recite it after every single prayer because it is one of the recommended prayers of our beloved prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Very often we recite supplications that are full of meaning, but we don’t realize what we’re asking for. 

When we say, O Lord, and we turn to him in need, we have within our hearts and our consciousness and concern many worries, many fears. But we raise our worries and our concerns and our fears, whether in our life or in our religion, our spiritual life, up to the One who alone can fulfill them.

“O Lord, grant us in this world, in this life, mighty good.” The good here is expressed in the indefinite: حَسَنَةًۭ. Instead of asking for the good, it’s in the indefinite, which in Arabic refers to mighty good. Good beyond our definition of good. Grant us in this world mighty good.

Good Beyond Good

The true good is that which leads to the eternal good in the next life and the good pleasure of God. “O Lord, grant us in this life mighty good.” وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةًۭ – “and in the next life, mighty good.”The believer seeks the greatest possible good. We want the closeness of Allah, the love of Allah, eternal presence with God, with our prophet and the past prophets, and with our loved ones of family and friends, eternal joy.

And since we seek that, we close by saying: حَسَنَةًۭ وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ – “and shield us from the chastisement of the fire.” Because just as we seek good, we have our wayward tendencies. As if to say: Don’t allow us, O Lord, to stray, lest we slip and fall. That is a commitment and declaration – both to seeking the good, but also to guarding the good in my life. It’s a statement of committing to mindfulness of God, of taqwa. 

There’s a prophetic encouragement to make the supplication after every prayer, even within any prayer. Whenever you have a need, you can use this prophetic supplication but mean it as you say it. Feel it as you express it and feel contentment and joy. Allah has told us: “Call upon me, I will surely answer you.”

Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

The post Supplication for All-Encompassing Good: Quranic Supplications 5 appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

How does one perform istinja’ during fasting? To what extent does one’s fast break via the water of istinja’?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

Water Entering the Vagina During Fasting

For the female front private area, it is sufficient to wash within the outer labia without inserting water into the actual vaginal opening.

If water did enter the vaginal opening, the fast is still intact as long as the water did not reach the length of a mihqana (a vaginal syringe sometimes used for douching). [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah]

Water Entering the Anus During Fasting

Washing one’s rear private part does not require water to enter the anus. It is sufficient to wash the exterior of the anus. [Ibid.]

If water does, however, enter the anus, the fast is valid as long as the water does not reach the length of a mihqana (a rectal syringe: a tool used from enemas). [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

It is highly unlikely that water would reach this distance from a normal istinja’. It is, however, recommended as a caution to dry one’s anal area before standing. [Ibid.]

Related: Have I Broken My Fast If Water Passes through My Private Parts While Washing Them?

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post How Does One Perform Istinja’ during Fasting? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

“Our Lord, accept from us; verily You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” [Quran, 2:127]

This supplication begins with calling upon Allah, calling upon God as rabbana, our caring and nurturing Lord. When we call upon Allah as our Lord this affirms both the Majesty of Allah, but it is also one of the Divine Names of mercy. Because the Rabb, the caring Lord, is the One who nurtures us, who has concern for us, who has mercy for us, who sustains us, and who takes us towards eternal good. 

When we call upon our Lord, we should intend and mean and feel Divine Mercy, care and concern, that should fill us up with hope, should fill us up with certainty, should fill us up with joy that we have a caring and concerned Lord. But we spread that concern not only to ourselves but to all people. When you say our Lord, for God is the Lord of all that exists, so when we call upon the good, typically it is in this plural sense: our Lord – رَبَّنَا. 

Enveloped in His Mercy

All supplications should be meant before they are said. All supplications should be felt as they are expressed, and we should really mean that we are calling upon our Lord. We should also really mean and feel and spread our concern, that O Lord of all people, past, present and future, all living things, all existing things – تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ – “accept from us.”

We ask God for acceptance. Why? Because if the Most Generous accepts, He will accept in accordance with His Generosity. If the Most Merciful accepts, He will envelope you in His Mercy.

That acceptance is an eternal acceptance. “You are so generous, all I ask from you is that You accept me.” And we close with a declaration of certitude: إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ. “Indeed, You alone are the All-Hearing and All-Knowing.” Why? Because other people may let you down. You may ask them, they may not reply. But Allah hears all things and He accepts all pleas.

This is a beautiful supplication, asking Allah for acceptance. It should fill us with confidence, with clarity, with comfort, with solace. It is a declaration of gratitude, because it is God who facilitated and then we ask the One who facilitated to accept by His mercy.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

The post Supplication for Acceptance: Quranic Supplications 4 appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

If I give charity and donate the reward to 10 people, does each person get one-tenth of the reward, or do they all get the full reward?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

If one gives charity and donates the reward of it to 10 people, each person gets the full reward without diminishing the reward from the original giver of the charity. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

Arabic References

The post How Will Each Person Receive the Reward If I Give Charity and Donate the Reward to Ten People? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

The post How Does Traveling across Countries with Disparate Ramadan Dates Affect One’s Fasting? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

My father died when I was eight years old, and now I am 14, and my mom is forcing me to go to cadet college, and I don’t want to. No one will be here to look after my family, and we will have to sell the house. I can have better study in my current school, and the cadet college will waste six years because I am in 9th grade now, and they will make me study from 8th grade.

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for your goodness to your mother and give your father peace, light, and mercy in his grave. May Allah provide you with a male figure in your life that can help guide you.

Goodness to Parents

Allah Most High said, “And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age (while) with you, say not to them (so much as), ‘uff,’ and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.” [Quran, 17:23]

Ustadh Tabraze mentions, “The obligation with respect to parents is doing good to them (birr), as the Quran informs us, and not simply obeying them in an absolute manner. However, we strive (1) to uphold deep respect when dealing with them, particularly when they are speaking from a different social and cultural context, and (2) to allay their concerns with wisdom and in a positive manner. If need be, you can pray the Prayer of Need (Salat al-Haja).”

Obedience

It is not obligatory for you to obey your mother in this, but instead of saying no flatly, you should research the prospect, as she might be right. You are very young; she might know more about this than you think. You should do the following at least:

• Visit the school and ask about its program and the opportunities it leads to;
• Speak to elders, uncles, or friends’ fathers about the two choices;
• Pray istikhara;
• Ask your mother why she wants you to go there and see where she is coming from;
• Talk to someone already attending the cadet college and get their opinion.

Once you have looked and asked, it’s fair to tell her that you are or are not comfortable with it. Ask her to try and understand where you are coming from and pray to Allah for wisdom, guidance, tact, and mutual understanding with her.

Please see these links as well:
To What Extent Should I Obey My Mother?
Do I Have to Obey My Mother in Something about Which She Took an Oath?
When May Parents Be Disobeyed, and How?
Can I Pursue a Career That Goes Against My Parents’ Wishes?

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post Do I Have to Go to the School That My Mother Wants Me to Go To? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

The post What Is the Definition and Categories of a Mujtahid? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I made a Muslim friend online, but she betrayed my trust. Her lies have put me through psychological turmoil for almost half a year. I already forgave her, but her presence disturbed me so much that I don’t think I can ever trust her again after what she did.

Can I put her messages in a restricted section (never going to see any of her messages again)? But I don’t plan to ignore her if we ever meet in person. I want to limit my interaction with her to face-to-face interaction only. Is it okay if I avoid her at all costs on all online platforms (even if she can see me using those platforms in other means, sample she sees me online sharing posts)?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

In general, one can stop talking to someone if they have wronged you. In this case, you can block her messages and avoid her on social platforms and intend to embrace and meet her face-to-face. Social platforms are mostly emotionless and create and generate misunderstandings and abuse.

A Muslim May Stop Talking to Others for Three Days

‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) reported the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “A Muslim may not boycott another Muslim for more than three days. Then, if he meets him, greets him with peace three times, and he receives no response, the sin falls back on the one still boycotting.” [Abu Dawud]

Speak as You Like to Be Spoken To

Harmala Ibn Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah(Allah bless him and give him peace), what do you command me to do?” The Messenger of Allah said, “O Harmala, do what is good and avoid what is evil. Consider what you are pleased to hear people say to you; when you stand to leave them, behave this way. Consider what you dislike to hear people say to you; when you stand to leave them, avoid doing it.” When I went back, I reflected on it and found that these two sayings did not leave anything out. [Bukhari, al-Adab al-Mufrad]

Related:

• Is It Permissible for Me to Stop Talking to a Harmful Family Member?
• Should I Maintain the Ties of a Difficult Friendship?
• Importance of Speech – Birgivi’s The Path of Muhammad Explained
• What Are the Qualities of a Friend?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post What Is the Ruling of Purposely Not Replying to Chats for a Valid Reason? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

While fasting, I intentionally removed my house curtain, and dust inadvertently entered my throat/got swallowed.

I was intentionally praying in a dusty room, and dust had entered my throat/got swallowed/got sniffed into my throat (for example, my nose got blocked due to the dustiness of the room, and I sniffed my nose to clear it, and dust entered into my throat and I swallowed it)?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

Dust that enters one’s mouth and is sniffed in the above manner will not invalidate one’s fast. An unavoidable substance will invalidate the fast if deliberately swallowed or inhaled.

What are Unavoidable Substances?

This applies to things one cannot guard oneself against, and if one were to do so, it would entail unbearable hardship.

Unavoidable Substances

Examples include:

•  Water that remains in the mouth and nose from wudu.
•  Possible dampness when one is showering.
•  Mucus.
•  Snot.
•  Saliva.
•  Saliva that may end up on the lips from talking.
•  Bugs and flies.
•  Dust. 
•  Smog from the traffic.
•  Flour from a flour mill.
•  What may be in the air when working as a construction worker.

The examples above are not exhaustive of what can be considered an unavoidable substance.

An unavoidable substance will invalidate the fast if deliberately swallowed or inhaled. [Rafi Usmani, Dabit al-Mufattirat (Principles on What Invalidates the Fast); Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; ʿAla’ al-din ʿAbidin, al-Hadiyya al-‘Ala’iyya]

Related:
Fasting: A Comprehensive SeekersGuidance Reader
A Ramadan Reader: A Comprehensive Answers Guide to Getting the Most Out of Ramadan
The Complete Guide to Fasting

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance, such as:
Ramadan Explained (Hanafi)
Shurunbulali’s Ascent to Felicity

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post What Is the Ruling on Dust Entering One’s Mouth Inadvertently? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I have been practicing Tai Chi and Qigong for a while and was happy to see among your answers that it is actually recommended. However, if one looks deeply into the subject, one finds that the practices are connected with Daoism. Doesn’t this entail that such practices are haram?

I reason that it is okay if one does so with the intention of healthcare, especially since the philosophical principles connected with them (to my limited understanding) are not against Islamic teaching.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

You are correct; as long as you intend to practice it for its health benefits only, concentrate on its postures and moves, and not look deep into its philosophical connections, then it would be fine.

Allah Loves Strong Believers More, but All Are Good

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reported the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The strong believer is more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, but there is goodness in both of them. Be eager for what benefits you, seek help from Allah, and do not be frustrated. If something befalls you, then do not say: If only I had done something else. Rather say: Allah has decreed what he wills. Verily, the  phrase ‘if only’ opens the way for the work of Satan.” [Muslim]

Imam Nawawi (Allah have mercy on him) said, “‘It opens the way for the work of Satan’ means he casts into the heart opposition to the divine decree and Satan tempts him with it.”

Related:

• Are Chinese Internal Arts Such as Qigong and Tai Chi Permissible?
• The Reality and Importance of Intention
• Is it permissible to engage in martial arts that have remnants of Buddhist culture/religion?
• Exercise Archives

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on Seekers Academy?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Are Qigong and Tai Chi Permissible despite Their Connections with Daoism? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

What is the ruling on praying with clothes beneath the ankle? The article on this site generally gives a ruling, but what about in Salah for short-height individuals?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

It is mildly disliked (makruh tanzihan) or contrary to what is best (khilaf al-Awla) to have one’s clothing hanging below one’s ankles. It is not sinful unless it is out of arrogance or pride. This is a general ruling for all. However, in your case, if you cannot keep your clothing above the ankles, it will not be disliked due to your short stature and height.  [Ibn‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; ‘Ala’uddin Ibn ‘Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-‘Ala’iyya; Nahlawi, al-Durar al-Mubaha]

Related:
Trousers Below One’s Ankles
Prayer Reader: The Ultimate Guide To Prayer in Islam

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance, such as: On Worship (Purification, Prayer, Fasting, Zakat, and Hajj): Shurunbulali’s Ascent to Felicity (seekersguidance.org)

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Can a Person of Short Stature Pray in Clothes That Go past Their Ankles? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

If one uses a hairdryer and some of the air that gets blown out of the hair dryer gets sniffed into one’s nose, swallowed in one’s mouth, or enters into one’s ear, does this break the fast, according to the Hanafi school of thought?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

Air that is generated from a hairdryer does not break one’s fast.

Only the entrance of something with a perceptible body into the body cavity through a recognized point of entry would invalidate the fast. [Ibn‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; ‘Ala’uddin Ibn ‘Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-‘Ala’iyya]

Related:
Fasting: A Comprehensive SeekersGuidance Reader
A Ramadan Reader: A Comprehensive Answers Guide to Getting the Most Out of Ramadan
The Complete Guide to Fasting

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance, like:
Ramadan Explained (Hanafi)
Shurunbulali’s Ascent to Felicity

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Does the Air from a Hair Dryer Entering One’s Nose or Mouth Invalidate the Fast? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I am a male who primarily follows the Shafi‘i school of thought. However, I’ve found it difficult to follow the school’s position regarding swallowing phlegm/mucus during fasting. I understand that to take a dispensation from another school; one has to ensure that they don’t do it habitually and that it doesn’t lead to contradictions in one’s act of worship.

I’ve done my research (through SeekersGuidance’s articles and course and reading Ascent to Felicity) to ensure that there aren’t contradictions in my fast, but to be sure, could you advise whether there are any aspects a Shafi‘i should look out for specifically when taking a Hanafi dispensation for fasting in particular, such that his fasts would not end up invalid?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

To take the dispensation of the Hanafi school regarding the swallowing of phlegm, you will have to keep the fasts by following the fasting rules according to the school in its entirety, soundly understanding the preconditions, invalidators, etc.

Learn the Rules of Another School with a Scholar or Book

It would be better to learn from a scholar the rules of fasting or read a text which you can soundly understand and ensure you follow the rules of fasting with all its conditions.

Conditions for the Validity of Following Another School

One has to remember that while it is permissible to follow another recognized school, it is impermissible to do so merely out of desire (shahwa) – or avoid legal responsibility- or in a manner that would lead to contradictory actions (talfiq).

Taking another school’s dispensation is valid if this is done due to an Islamically recognized reason, such as health conditions, elder age, etc.

Swallowing Phlegm from within the Mouth

Swallowing phlegm from within the mouth does not invalidate the fast in the Hanafi school, even if done intentionally. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

However, it is recommended to avoid swallowing phlegm in a dignified manner when reasonably possible. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; ʿAla’ al-din ʿAbidin, al-Hadiyya al-‘Ala’iyya; Tahtawi, Hashiyat al-Tahtawi ‘ala Maraqi al-Falah]

Related:

• Principles on what invalidates the fast
• Fasting: A Comprehensive SeekersGuidance Reader
• A Ramadan Reader: A Comprehensive Answers Guide to Getting the Most Out of
• All you need to know about whether to follow a madhab

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post What Aspects Should a Shafi’i Look Out for When Taking a Hanafi Dispensation for Fasting? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

According to what I’ve heard, anyone unable to fast in Ramadan owing to illness, pregnancy, or other causes should make an expiatory charity (fidya) for each fast missed.

What is the process for a pregnant woman to give expiatory charity (fidya)?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

A pregnant woman who cannot fast during Ramadan is permitted not to fast if doing so would cause her or her child undue difficulty. [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah]

She will make up those missed days of fasting at a later date when she is able to fast without undue difficulty. [Ibid.]

She will not pay any expiatory charity (fidya) since she is able to make them up in the future. Only those who are reasonably sure that they will never be able to make up their fasts will pay the expiatory charity (fidya). [Ibid.]

Related:
What Is the Reasoning behind Paying the Fidya for Missed Fasts of the Deceased?
Can a Woman Give Expiatory Charity (Fidya) If Her Fasts Exceed 200?

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post Can a Pregnant Woman Pay Expiatory Charity (Fidya) for Her Missed Fasts? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Is it allowed not to fast on days when you are concerned that the overall strain of specific life circumstances and the toll of fasting would affect a baby’s growth in the initial weeks of pregnancy?

On days when there is little or no stress and a good physical feeling, that individual will fast, but they are concerned about the days when there is a lot of stress due to the combination of fasting and academic finals.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Yes. It is permissible for you to break your fast if undue physical and mental stress cause you to fear for the sake of your fetus.

Pregnant Women and Fasting

A pregnant woman who cannot fast during Ramadan is permitted to break her fast if doing so would cause her or her child undue difficulty. [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah]

She will make up those missed days of fasting at a later date when she is able to fast without undue difficulty. [Ibid.]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post What Must a Pregnant Woman Do If She Is Unable to Fast in Ramadan? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

In the Hanafi school, if phlegm from one’s throat enters the mouth and is swallowed, the fast is not considered invalid.

Is this ruling applicable to saliva as well? Is my fast still valid in the Hanafi school if, for example, I pronounce the letter (خ) or clear my throat and saliva from beyond my throat enters my mouth, and I consciously swallow this saliva?

Also, if I burp and the gas remains in my mouth, does this break my fast?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

Saliva

You don’t have to spit your saliva while fasting because swallowing saliva inside your mouth won’t break your fast. Nonetheless, it remains disliked for someone fasting to gather his saliva in his mouth and swallow it. [Shurunbulali, Nur al-Idah]

Phlegm

Swallowing mucus that has reached one’s mouth through one’s nose or throat does not invalidate one’s fast. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

This is because by doing so, one is not entering anything into the body cavity, which would break the fast.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: “The fast is broken from what enters (the body).” [Musnad Abu Ya’la by way of Nasb al-Raya]

Burping

According to the Hanafi school, if you were to vomit less than a mouthful and swallow it intentionally, you would not break your fast. Burping is undoubtedly akin to vomiting less than a mouthful, as only gas has entered the mouth cavity. Thus swallowing back this gas won’t invalidate your fast. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

And Allah knows best.
Wassalam
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Does Swallowing Back Saliva or a Burp Break My Fast? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I have a question regarding “Allah being pleased with his servants”; what is the correct interpretation? Because Allah being pleased in the general sense would imply change, and Allah is Transcendent beyond that. So, how should I interpret this?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

The good pleasure (Rida, also Ridwan) of Allah can be understood in a few ways:

• The action or attribute that Allah Most High is “pleased” with can metaphorically mean— that action or attribute aligns with what Allah Most High wants and for which He will grant reward. [Qurtubi, al-Jami‘ Li Ahkam al-Quran]
• The pleasure of Allah Most High can be interpreted as Allah’s will to bestow blessings on someone (Iradat al-Tafaddul). [Lesson by Sh. Umar Husayn al-Khatib on Jawharat al-Tawhid]

Examples from Quran

Allah Most High says, “If you disbelieve, then (know that) Allah is truly not in need of you, nor is He pleased with disbelief from His servants. But if you become grateful (through faith), He is pleased with that from you (…).” [Quran, 39:17]

Looking at this one verse through the lens of the above meanings of Divine good pleasure, we can get a fuller sense of the meanings of this verse.

Absolute Dissimilarity

Many of the attributes that Allah Most High describes Himself with have, as far as the words used, a meaning of emotion. Emotions are subject to change and are qualities of human beings. However, Allah Most High is absolutely dissimilar to His creation.

Attributes like anger and contentment must not be understood literally. These qualities are among those ambiguous qualities whose outward meaning seemingly indicates a similarity between Allah Most High and His creation.

Elusive Verses (Mutashabihat)

Since the Quran is Allah’s message to creation, He speaks to them in a language that they can understand. However, just like in any language, words and statements can be literal or metaphorical, can be clear in their meaning or elusive, requiring deep reflection to understand the intent of the speaker.

Allah Most High says, “He is the One Who has revealed to you (O Prophet) the Book, of which some verses are definitive—they are the foundation of the Book—while others are elusive. Those with deviant hearts follow the elusive verses seeking (to spread) doubt through their (false) interpretations—but none grasps their (full) meaning except Allah. As for those well-grounded in knowledge, they say, ‘We believe in this (Quran)—it is all from our Lord.’ But none will be mindful (of this) except people of reason.” [Quran, 3:7]

From this verse we see that there are verses in the Quran that have elusive meanings the exact meaning of which is only with Allah Most High.

It is important to remember that everything the Muslim is required to believe or know is of the definitive verses.

Verses Seemingly Implying Likeness Between Allah and Creation

Amongst the elusive verses of the Quran are those that seem to imply a similarity between Allah and His creation. The verse implying that Allah Most High has eyes is of this type of verses.  [Laqqani, Jawharat al-Tawhid]

Allah Most High says, “So be patient with your Lord’s decree, for you are truly under Our (watchful) Eyes. And glorify the praises of your Lord when you rise.” [Quran, 52:48]

Allah Most High says, also “‘Put him into a chest, then put it into the river. The river will wash it ashore, and he will be taken by (Pharaoh,) an enemy of Mine and his.’ And I blessed you with lovability from Me (O Moses) so that you would be brought up under My (watchful) Eye.” [Quran, 20:39]

Regarding this verse and other elusive verses like it, the scholars took two main approaches:

• Those who interpreted the verses according to three strict criteria;
• Those who suspended judgment of interpretation and consigned true knowledge of its meaning to Allah Most High. [Laqqani, Jawharat al-Tawhid]

Both groups are unanimous that these verses do not, in any way, imply an actual similarity between Allah and His creation. [Ibid.]

Let’s look at each approach individually:

The First Approach: Those Who Interpreted (Ta’wil)

Due to the spread of Islam to lands where many religions and sects collectively called home, as well as the newfound presence of books of greek philosophy being translated into languages understood by the Muslims – the scholars deemed it necessary to give a tangible interpretation to the elusive verses.

The intention behind this decision was to suffice the doubts and misconceptions that began to creep into the Muslim psyche.

However, these scholars did not take this lightly. They codified a systematic approach to consistently interpreting these verses in a manner that is congruent to establish tenets of Islamic belief and theology.

Conditions of Interpretation

The scholars laid down three conditions for interpreting these elusive verses –  any interpretation must:

1. be a valid meaning in the Arabic language;
2. be in sync with the context of the verse;
3. not go against any established beliefs in Islam. [Laqqani, Jawharat al-Tawhid]

Applying These Conditions

Allah Most High says, “So be patient with your Lord’s decree, for you are truly under Our (watchful) Eyes. And glorify the praises of your Lord when you rise.” [Quran, 52:48]

In the above verse the words “Our Eyes”, seems to imply that Allah Most High has eyes which lead one to think of a likeness to the human eyes.

Using the above conditions, the scholars have come up with the following interpretation.

Condition One:

The word ‘Ayn or eye (used in the plural form in the above verse) has many meanings in Classical Arabic.

• The organ through which one sees.
• The faculty of sight.
• Care and concern.
• Etc. [Laqqani, Jawharat al-Tawhid]

Each of these usages have textual proofs for their meanings in Classical (jahilliya) poetry which is the source for the preserved language of Classical Arabic.

For instance, the Arabs would say:

عَلَى عَيْني قصدْتُ زَيْدًا
Upon my ‘Ayn, I sought out Zayd
(Literally translated)

The word ‘Ayn here is meant to mean “out of concern, I sought out Zayd.”

Condition Two:

The meaning chosen must match the context of the verse. Using the same example we see that the meaning of ‘Ayn (lit. eye), care and concern, matches the context of all the verses it comes in.

For example:

Allah Most High says, “So be patient with your Lord’s decree, for you are truly under Our (watchful) Eyes. And glorify the praises of your Lord when you rise.” [Quran, 52:48]

Allah Most High says, also “‘Put him into a chest, then put it into the river. The river will wash it ashore, and he will be taken by (Pharaoh,) an enemy of Mine and his.’ And I blessed you with lovability from Me1 (O Moses) so that you would be brought up under My (watchful) Eye.” [Quran, 20:39]

In both of these very different stories, we see the word ‘Ayn or its plural ‘Ayun fits, if interpreted as care and concern.

“So be patient with your Lord’s decree, for you are truly under Our care.” [Quran, 52:48]

“(O Moses) so that you would be brought up under My care.” [Quran, 20:39] [Ibid.]

Condition Three:

The interpretation with is chosen meaning from the various valid meanings carried in the Classical Arabic must not go against any established belief in the Sacred Theology of Islam.

Allah Most High having care and concern for His prophets, and particularly the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and give him peace) and Moses (Upon him be peace) is a meaning that is congruent to the belief of Islam: Allah Most High wants what’s best for us and has commanded us to what is in our best interest. [Ibid.]

One More Example

Another famous example that has been a source of misunderstanding for some Muslims are the verses that speak of the hand (yad) of Allah.

The word in Arabic for “hand” is yad (pl. Aydi). Looking at this word through the lens of the above conditions we find the following:

• “Yad” has up to 70 meanings. Among them is (a) the limb that has fingers – this is its literal meaning, (b) power, (c) generosity, (d) control, (these three are of its many metaphorical meanings), etc. [Ibn Manzur, Lisan al-Arab]
• The context allows for the metaphorical meanings.
  Allah Most High says, “(Some among) the Jews said, ‘Allah’s hand is tied up.’ May their hands be tied and they be condemned for what they said. Rather, He is open-handed, giving freely as He pleases (…).” [Quran, 5:64]
  The context of this verse is the Jews accusation that Allah Most High is miserly and stingy. Miserliness is often referred to by the metaphor of a closed hand (e.g. tied up). The word yad (lit. hand) has generosity as one of its valid usages. And generosity matches the context where Allah is refuting the Jews’ accusation that He is miserly.
• Allah Most High being generous is part and parcel of our obligatory belief about Allah Most High. The name of Allah al-Karim (the generous) supports this clearly.

The Second Approach (Tafwidh)

This approach was the approach of many of the early scholars. This was most common prior to the spread of Islam to lands where people exposed to western philosophy and other sects. Due to this context, there was less need to interpret.

This approach is essentially affirming that Allah Most High is absolutely dissimilar to His creation, and as for the elusive verses that seem to imply a similarity the scholarly position is to suspend judgment and consign the true meaning to Allah Most High alone. A scholar of this approach will say, “Allah knows best” and leave it there. [Laqqani, Jawharat al-Tawhid]

Both Approaches are Valid

Imam al-Laqqani (Allah have mercy on him), the great scholar of Islamic theology writes about this issue, in his famous poem on Islamic theology:

“وَكُلُّ نَصٍّ أَوْهَمَ التَّشْبِيْهَ  – أَوِّلْهُ أَوْ فَوِّضْ وَرُمْ تَنْزِيْهًا”

Every text that implies similarity – Interpret it, or consign it (to Allah), and (in either case) affirm (Divine) dissimilarity. [Ibid.]

Invalid Approaches (Tashbih wa Tajsim)

To affirm the literal meanings of these elusive verses and words, in such a way that one is affirming, intentionally or unintentionally, a similarity between Allah Most High and creation – is heresy and potentially disbelief.

For someone to say that Allah has a hand (yad) like our hands or an eye (‘ayn) like our eyes – is tantamount to disbelief. Likewise for one to affirm that Allah Most High has a body, actual physical body parts, a physical location, etc. is tantamount to disbelief.

The scholars were very adamant against such positions. Such beliefs are outside the Sunni mainstream (Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama‘a). [Ibid.]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post What Does It Mean That “Allah Is Pleased with Me”? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I have a question that is making my daily life difficult. After ensuring no urine is left and doing the necessary steps that would ensure that no drops of urine are left (coughing, squeezing the private part, etc.), I pour water to perform istinja’. However, drops of water come out from the urethra, as they have gone in during istinja’, which makes me do it over and over again.

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for trying to be careful, and may Allah accept your worship.

Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings)

Anything you feel exits after you have finished washing is baseless and should be ignored entirely. This is where Allah’s pleasure lies. You should quickly wash and move on; I am certain that you will be purified and ready for prayer.

Please see these links as well:
How Do I Stop Waswasa in Istinja?
How Should I Deal with Baseless Misgivings about Purity?
How to Ignore Baseless Misgiving

Please see this reader for more details and solutions to this affliction, and may you see that Allah has made every part of our religion easy.

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post How Can I Solve the Problem of Repeating Istinja’ Over and Over? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I was wondering if it is acceptable to see a person (Muslim or not) as evil if they have committed a sinful act or if we should merely state that the act is evil and not remark on the person.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

The Quran speaks of people as being evil. However, Allah Most High is aware of each person’s reality, not just what appears outwardly in their acts and character.

Allah Most High says, “Indeed, those who disbelieve from the People of the Book and the polytheists will be in the Fire of Hell, to stay there forever. They are the worst of (all) beings.” [Quran, 98:6]

Judging by the Outward

As for us, we can only judge by people’s actions and outward behaviors. At the same time, knowledge of their reality is with Allah Most High.

In light of this, we should avoid making sweeping judgments of people’s realities. However, as you mentioned, evil acts are evil acts and must be called out as such.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post Is It Permissible to Consider Someone Evil? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Because my right leg is shorter than my left, I have difficulty balancing when not supported by my shower wall. So, at work, where such facilities do not exist, may I perform tayammum instead of wudu?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

In general, when one has undue difficulty performing an act of worship, the Sacred Law will yield a concession.

That said, if one can circumvent the difficulty with reasonable means, it is an obligation to do so. The concessions of the Sacred law are only afforded according to the extent of the difficulty.

Alternative Options

The following are suggested alternatives. Consider which of them works best for you:

1) Finding a place where one can perform the ablution without the difficulty of balancing;

2) Using footgear in place of washing.

The Sacred law offers an alternative to washing the feet when performing the ablution (wudu). There are specific conditions for this to be done correctly, but it may grant you much ease in this regard.

Please take a look at the rules of footgear here.

In short, if after performing a full ablution (wudu), including washing your feet, you wear the above footgear – the subsequent ablutions can be performed with wiping on this footgear in place of washing the feet.

If you perform a complete ablution at home, you can wipe on the sock while outside.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post Can I Recourse to Tayammum If I Have Trouble Washing My Feet? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Is my fast broken if water enters my vagina as a result of cleansing it after urinating? I don’t know how to wash it without letting water through, so I’m worried about my fasting during Ramadan.

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

Pouring water or oil into the vagina, when it reaches the distance of the enema (mihqana), will break your fast and require you to make it up.  No expiation (kafara) is required, though. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah and Imdad al-Fattah; ‘Ala’ al-Din ‘Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-‘Ala’iyya]

The enema (mihqana) is a device used to insert medicine into the body through the anus. In our day, a mihqana is similar to a rectal syringe. The distance that breaks the fast is determined by when the top of the mihqana reaches the place where medicine is released from it to the intestines. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

1.5 inches (roughly 4 cm) is an acceptable estimation.

The above has been adapted from this previous answer.

Istibra’ for Woman

The process of ensuring that there are no traces of urine at the point of exit is called Istibra’.

The duty to perform Istibra’ is only incumbent upon men. Women don’t have to perform Istibra’, whether she is menstruating or not. A woman simply needs to wait for a little after urinating, and that’s it. After that, she will be allowed to pray without any dislikedness. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

And Allah knows best.
Wassalam
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Have I Broken My Fast If Water Passes through My Private Parts While Washing Them? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

My discharge has turned yellow for a long time now. Even after 15 days of the period, the discharge will remain yellow. After menses, I don’t see any dryness, so I don’t know how to tell if I’m in a state of purity. During Ramadan, after my period, I don’t usually see the brown discharge until after the maghrib. So, I get scared during Ramadan, wondering if I can fast or not.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

Normal Vaginal Discharge Drying Yellow

It is possible for normal vaginal discharge to exit the vagina as clear or white but then dry into yellowish color over time.

Dryness After Purity

After a woman finishes her menstruation, her vagina is often dry with hardly any discharge at all. When the discharge returns, it will be thick, pasty, and white in color, like yogurt.

The Intention of Fasting after the Ending of Period

Once your period ends, your vagina will be dry; it does not matter. You can intend to fast as long your period has ended, and it is before the true dawn, which is the beginning of fajr. [Hartford, Birgivi’s Manual Interpreted: Complete Fiqh on Menstruation; Ackbarali, A Muslim Woman’s Guide to Menstruation Rulings]

Advice

I would suggest keeping in contact with a local reliable female scholar who is well-versed in menstruation matters. Attend any on-the-ground and online courses on menstruation. Also, buy books related to the topic.

It is a personal obligation (fard) for every adult woman to learn the basic rules of menstruation and to ask, as you’ve done, in the case of a complicated or unique situation). The books Coming of Age by Ustadha Hedaya Hartford and A Muslim Woman’s Guide to Menstruation Rulings by Nailelah Ackbarali are very accessible books to learn these rulings. I urge you to buy the latter at your first instance. It is in English and has many practical examples, life experiences, and even illustrative charts to calculate menstruation.

Related: Menstruation: A Comprehensive Reader

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post How Would I Know If I Am in a State of Purity after My Period? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I’m 23 years old, and my boyfriend and I have been dating for almost a year now. We just had a fight and broke up, and I love him so deeply, and I ask Allah to bring him back to my life again and love me more.

Alhamdulillah, my prayer was answered, but I’m so confused now. We just had a small misunderstanding, and he told me his heart is burning like I’m reporting him to Allah. Should I stop praying about him?

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for turning to Allah in your brokenheartedness, and may he give you what your heart really needs.

Love

Love before marriage is a very complicated thing, especially when coupled with lust and a lack of Islamic guidance. I recommend that you follow the advice of our Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), who said the following:

“There is nothing like marriage, for two who love one another.” [Ibn Majah]

For this reason, I urge you to ask your boyfriend to convert to Islam if he is not Muslim and then marry him. A man doesn’t truly love or respect a woman until he marries her and promises to take care of her for life.

Choice of Spouse

Pray istikhara about whether this is the right man for you and picture whether you feel that he will be a good father to your children. Does he respect women? Will he teach your children how to pray and read Quran? Is he patient? Does he honor parents? Does he have a good education? Will he be able to provide for you in the way that you are accustomed to?

Heed the advice of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), who said,  “A woman is married for four things: for her wealth, for her lineage, for her beauty or her piety. Select the pious, or your hands will be covered in dust!” [Bukhari; Muslim]

Supplication

Don’t ever stop asking Allah for what you desire, but do watch out for the etiquette of supplication. It is not befitting for a Muslim to ask for something impermissible, and Allah is eager to wipe away indecency from his servants. Tweak your dua to ask Allah for the best husband and that you get married in the best way. Ask Him to give you wellness, relief, guidance, and good in this world and the next.

The etiquette of a believer with their Lord is patience. The servant asks his Lord, and he must patiently wait even if it is difficult and trust that Allah’s timing is the best. Never claim that your dua was not answered. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) told us, “The supplication of every one of you is granted if he does not grow impatient and say: ‘I supplicated, but it was not granted.’” [Muslim]

Repentance

I also urge you to repent for your past sins and make the intention not to continue a relationship with anyone without marriage, as only marriage is a true commitment and truly fulfilling for both parties. Above all, Allah’s rights must not be infringed, and it is His right that His rules be obeyed. Fear not, for Allah is the All-Merciful, and His mercy encompasses all.

Allah Most High says: “Say: My servants who have wronged yourselves, never despair of God’s mercy. God forgives all sins: He is truly the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” [Quran, 39:53]

Please see these links as well:
The Reality and Etiquettes of Supplication: A Reader
Can I Make Dua That Allah Sends My Boyfriend to Me as My Future Husband?
How Do I Repent After Having Had a Boyfriend?
Can I Ask Allah To Give Me Back My Ex-Boyfriend?

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post Should I Stop Praying That My Boyfriend Loves Me More Deeply? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Is doubting if one broke the fast breaks the fast? I sniffed mucus from my nose to bring it to my mouth to spit it out, but then I felt something in my throat. However, I am not sure if that was the mucus I sniffed.

Since Ramadan began, I am unsure if any of my fasts have been valid. I do not know if this is waswasa or not.

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for fasting and for asking to clarify your doubts. May He accept all of your worship and reward you abundantly.

Mucus While Fasting

Please assume that your fasts are all valid and see the details here:

• Does Sniffing or Swallowing Mucus Nullify My Fasting or Prayer?
• Does Swallowing Mucus Still Break One’s Fast If There Is Hardship in Avoiding It?
• Swallowing phlegm while fasting
• Does Swallowing Mucus Invalidate My Fast?

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post Is My Fast Broken If I Felt Mucus Entering My Throat Though I Meant to Spit It Out? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Does falling my hair during ‘Umra necessitate expiation?

What if when I perform wudu, my eyebrow hairs come out or my eyelash hairs fall out due to the scrubbing?

Also, is expiation due on me if my nose hairs fall as a result of using a tissue or doing wudu?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

If hairs fall out while in the state of Ihram, expiation is due. This applies whether the hairs fell out due to one’s action or accident. [Maydani, al-Lubab Fi Sharh al-Kitab]

Note that if one’s hair fell out by accident, one is not sinful, but the expiation is required.

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Indeed, Allah has overlooked for my community (umma) mistakes, forgetting, and what they are compelled to do.” [Ibn Majah]

More details on this can be found in this link.

Hairs of the Face

The basis in eyebrows, eyelashes, and nose hairs is that if one finds that they fell off, one can consider that they were already detached prior to being in the state of Ihram. This is because such hairs do not fall out as easily as those on the head.

Note that this rule will remain the basis unless one clearly did something that would make such hairs fall off – such as wiping one’s face very hard.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post How Do I Expiate for Various Hairs Falling Out during ‘Umra? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I’m 24 years old with five siblings and live away from my family for education. My parents have created this toxic environment back home where they quarrel about everything. My siblings and I didn’t realize the effect they had on us. My father is all the time abusing my sister and mother verbally.

I’ll be moving back home soon, but I don’t know how to deal with all this again. I’ve tried telling my dad to talk nicely instead of shouting. He cursed me and my mum and told me how I grew up on his money. What am I supposed to do?

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah grant you and your mother patience and grant your father understanding, knowledge, and wisdom to improve himself.

Show Excellence

I empathize with your frustration, as it is not permissible for your father to treat you or your mother like this. The best of creation, our Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), taught us: “None of you truly believes until you love for your fellow Muslim what you love for yourself.” [Bukhari; Muslim] This applies to family relationships as well.

There are a few coping mechanisms that you can try while you are living at home.

• Restrain yourself from a mean or disrespectful response, as even silence is considered excellence to your parents;
• Do what he asks and make an effort to do it well. Don’t let his accusations be true;
• Keep yourself busy with good things, such as praying in the mosque, getting a part-time job, studying with a group, or learning a new skill;
• Walk away from conflict instead of getting pulled into engaging him unnecessarily, but do defend your mother;
• Speak up for yourself politely, or write him a letter explaining your feelings;
• Try journaling; once you get your emotions onto paper, it will be easier to process them and understand what you need;
• Spend time with good friends who are a positive and religious influence on you;
• Exercise, take your supplements, and get very fresh air every day. Never let your physical health suffer.

Always remember this Quranic injunction when you face him: “Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and do good to parents. If any one of them or both of them reach old age, do not say to them: ‘Uff’ (a word or expression of anger or contempt) and do not scold them, and address them with respectful words. [Quran, 17:23]

Obedience

Please remember that obeying one’s parents is not obligatory in Islam; rather, it is obligatory to show them goodness. This does mean obedience at times, but not unconditionally. Please see more details on this in the links below.

Move Out

Rest assured that you will move out one day and marry, perhaps sooner than you think, and things will get easier, in sha’ Allah. Plan to live on your own sooner than later. Perhaps go abroad for a postgraduate degree. Many young people do not get along with their parents, only to become their best friends after they have their own children. Be sure not to repeat the emotional abuse cycle when you have children. Ask Allah to guide you away from living a life of fear and guilt and instead living a life based on love and inspiration.

Turn to Allah

Turn to Allah, learn your personally obligatory knowledge, be the best Muslim that you can be, and build your relationship with your Lord. There is no problem that Allah sends you that He cannot solve, so ask for His mercy and guidance to a solution. He will surely come to your aid. If you ask Allah to change your father’s heart toward you all, that is easy for Allah to bring about. Please remember the dua of victims is always heard.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “There are three whose supplication is not rejected: The fasting person when he breaks his fast, the just leader, and the supplication of the oppressed person; Allah raises it up above the clouds and opens the gates of heaven to it. And the Lord says: ‘By My might, I shall surely aid you, even if it should be after a while.’” [Tirmidhi]

Forgive

Remember Allah’s words from the Holy Quran and contemplate on how Allah has sent you your father as your test, “O you who have attained faith! Behold, some of your spouses and your children are enemies unto you: so beware of them! But if you pardon [their faults] and forbear, and forgive-then, behold, God will be much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace. Your worldly goods and your children are but a trial and a temptation, whereas with God, there is a tremendous reward.” [Quran, 64:14-15]

Please read these excellent and relevant answers:
How Do We Deal With Parents Who Emotionally Abuse Their Children?
How Should I Sort Out a Dysfunctional Relationship With My Parents?
When May Parents Be Disobeyed, and How?
To What Extent Should I Obey My Mother?

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post How Do I Deal with an Abusive Father and His Constant Shouting and Cursing? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I fear making mistakes or getting lost in my path to seek knowledge. How can I avoid making mistakes or even find encouragement and high aspirations along my journey of seeking knowledge?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

The most important thing for you is to seek knowledge through seeking help and guidance from Allah Most High, always turning to Him every moment of your time and not relying on your action. One of the signs of relying upon one’s actions is the loss of hope when a slip occurs, as mentioned by Ibn ‘Ata’ Allah in his aphorisms.

Below are a few points and many other valuable links and answers by our inspiring teachers.

• It is essential for you to seek guidance from Allah Most High, foremost, praying two rak‘ats of istikhara and need and renewing your intentions;
• Seek knowledge from reliable local scholars who are teaching knowledge face-to-face in your locality, especially your local Imam and groups of scholars. Seek advice and counsel from them and take their guidance;
• Attend the local circles of knowledge and any circles of remembrance to impact your heart into practicing the knowledge you learn;
• Seek forgiveness and repent unto Allah Most High when you slip up, as knowledge is light, and it only enters hearts who do not commit sin.

SeekersGuidance has a variety of inspiring curriculums and courses conducted by mindful and inspiring teachers worldwide; look into what might suit you and your time.

Allah Most High facilitates ease in seeking knowledge and opens up inspiring paths in your life in the future amin.

Related:

• How Do I Seek Knowledge?
• Knowledge: What, How and Why We Study
• Critical Issues Seminar: How Do I Seek Knowledge?
• The Intentions for Seeking Knowledge – Imam Abdullah al-Haddad 
• The Way of The Seeker: How To Seek Islamic Knowledge Successfully
• How to Seek Islamic Knowledge – Imam Subki’s Counsel by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani [Video]
• Habib Ali al-Jifri: Advice for Seekers of Islamic Knowledge at SeekersGuidance [Video]
• Purification of the Heart for Youth: Diseases of the Heart and Their Cure [Video]
• The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained [Video]
• Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart [Book]
• Prayer of Repentance: Salat al-Tawba

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course like the following:

• Islamic Studies Curriculum
• Youth Islamic Studies Curriculum
• How Islam Works: What is Religion, and How It Is Preserved, Transmitted, and Interpreted 

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post How Can I Find Inspiration in Seeking Knowledge? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Is there a hadith about a man who was poor and the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) advised him to get married? One after the other, he married four wives; the fourth wife was a tailor, and she taught the other wives; the husband opened a business, and then Allah blessed him. Please let me know.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

There is no hadith, as mentioned above, where a poor man marries four women and becomes rich. However, there is a hadith where a man comes to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and complains to him about poverty, and he advises him to get married.

Hadith of Jabir Ibn Abdullah (Allah bless him and give him peace) and Similar Reports

Jabir Ibn Abdullah (Allah bless him and give him peace) reports that a man came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) complaining about poverty. The Prophet advised him to get married.

Khatib al-Baghdadi has reported this. However, this chain has an unreliable narrator, as mentioned by Dhahabi in Mizan and Ibn Hajar in I‘tidal. [Khatib al-Baghdadi, Tarikh Baghdad]

Many weak narrations and reports, like from ‘Umar, ‘A’isha, Ibn Mas‘ud, and Ibn ‘Abbas, etc. (Allah be pleased with them all), have been mentioned regarding marriage being a source of generating sustenance. And in general, this is mentioned in the Quran and Hadith.

Quranic Command – Marry, Allah will Enrich One in Return

“Marry off the singles among you, as well as the righteous of your bondmen and bondwomen. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them out of His bounty. For Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.” [Quran, 24:32]

Prophetic Advice – Three People have Guaranteed Help from Allah Most High

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reported the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Three people have a guaranteed right of help from Allah Most High. One who strives in the path of Allah Most High, a slave who has a contact of manumission and intends to repay his money, and one who wants to get married and intends chastity in his life.” [Tirmidhi]

Related:
A Guide to Marriage: SeekersGuidance Reader
Etiquette of Marriage: A Comprehensive SeekersGuidance Reader

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Is There a Hadith about a Poor Man Marrying Four Wives and Being Blessed with Wealth? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Shaykh Ibn Taymiyya claims that Arabs are superior to other races in lineage and descent, which is the view of most scholars, including Imam Ahmad.

Doesn’t that contradict the statement of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) that no Arab is superior to non-Arab except in Taqwa? This deeply disturbs me because Ibn Taymiyya and Imam Ahmad are two scholars I respect, and I hate that they have such an opinion. Can you kindly clarify if that makes sense?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

Islam gives all people equal rights and opportunities and opposes all forms of racism, nationalism, and tribalism which incite the pride of one class of people against another. The Quran and Sunna convey mindfulness of Allah Most High as the only distinctive feature that makes someone better than another.

Allah Most High said, “Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you.” [Quran, 49:13]

Abu Nadra (Allah bless him and give him peace) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “O people, your Lord is one, and your father Adam is one. There is no favor of an Arab over a foreigner, nor a foreigner over an Arab, and neither white skin over black skin, nor black skin over white skin, except by righteousness. Have I not delivered the message?” [Aḥmad]

Arab Virtue Over Others is Due to Islam, Faith, and Mindfulness

“Verily, Allah chose Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of ‘Imran over the worlds.” [Quran, 3:33]

“Verily, Allah has chosen Kinana from the sons of Ishmael, and he has chosen the Quraish from Kinana, and he has chosen the tribe of Hashim from the Quraish, and he has chosen me from the tribe of Hashim.” [Muslim]

Allah Most High, through his wisdom favored some nations over others by bestowing divine revelation upon them, but it has nothing to do with race, tribe, or lineage. However, Allah Most High favors some nations over others because of their righteous deeds. That favor is lost with the loss of righteousness, which is why the Israelites eventually fell from grace.

Ibn Taymiyya’s (Allah have mercy on him) View and Clarification

Ibn Taymiyya (Allah have mercy on him) clarifies his opinion and gives a reason (also acknowledging, “Allah Most High knows best”) that is: because they were the very first models of Islam and the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was from amongst them in lineage and descent, having brought faith in Him, having beneficial knowledge, righteousness, and of high spiritual excellence. It was not because of them being an Arab, or foreigner, with black or white skin, or residing in the city or countryside. [Ibn Taymiyya, Iqtiḍa’ al-Ṣiraṭ al-Mustaqim Li Mukhalafat Ashab al-Jahim]

Related: The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Is It True That Arabs Have Superiority to Others in Terms of Lineage and Descent? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Can I ask for a personal miracle with a problem that I’m having? I am not a wali, and this miracle will technically be something that I can’t conceal because it does have to do with my physicality.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate

I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah. May Allah grant you ease and facilitation.

The proper manners of supplication include not asking Allah for normally impossible things, such as miracles. [Zarkashi/Ansari, Talkhis al-Azhiya fi Ahkam al-Ad‘iya]

This is because such supplication is contrary to what slavehood (‘ubudiyya) to Allah entails of asking out of neediness and deference to Allah’s Lordship and Wisdom. [Ibid.; Ibn A‘llan, al-Futuhat al-Rabbaniyya Sharh al-Adhkar al-Nawawiyya]

Rather, if you have a need, ask Allah to fulfill it–and consign how Allah fulfills it and when He fulfills it to His Wisdom and Mercy.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Call upon Allah with certitude in His response.” [Tirmidhi]

In sensitive matters, follow the Prophetic call to consult the people of knowledge and wisdom. Sayyiduna ‘Ali (Allah be pleased with him)said, “The best of support is consulting.” [Mawardi, Adab al-Dunya wa al-Din]

Related:

• Three Manners of Supplication – Adab of Du’a [Video]
• How Can I Ensure That My Supplication Is Accepted?
• The Reality and Proper Manners of Asking Allah (Dua) [Course]
• Beseeching: The Divine Supplications From The Quran [Course]
• Connecting to Allah through Supplication: Learn Deeper Meanings of Dua [Course]

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

The post Can I Ask Allah for a Personal Miracle? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

 رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى  وَيَسِّرْ لِىٓ أَمْرِى  وَٱحْلُلْ عُقْدَةًۭ مِّن لِّسَانِى  يَفْقَهُوا۟ قَوْلِى

“My Lord, open wide my breast, and make easy my whole mission, and free a great knot from my tongue, and they will comprehend all I say.” [Quran, 20.25-28]

This is the great supplication of our master Musa, peace be upon him. A beautiful supplication to make before you have anything important to say to anyone whatsoever. Our master Musa, peace be upon him, had the most beautiful and persuasive speech. When you have a responsibility, a mission, a purpose, you want to fulfill it in the most effective of ways.

It’s a beautiful way of asking Allah: “O Allah open wide for me my heart,’ so that I may act with wisdom. So that I may respond with patience. So that I may make the best of judgments. And facilitate for me my mission, my affair – whatever is before me.

Don’t Waver or Fear or Worry

This supplication you can make for anything whatsoever. Whatever concerns you in your life, in your family, in your work, in your service, in your community, in anything. “And remove any obstacle for me in my speech.” Likewise with anything else “so that they may fully comprehend my speech, so that my purpose and effort can be fulfilled.”

Supplications like this gather our concern into resolve. They give us strength because we’re seeking to take potentially difficult or challenging steps, engaging in possibly critical conversations. With certitude, as servants of God. With confidence because we have relied on the mercy of The All Merciful. Then we don’t waver or fear or worry. We proceed with consideration and with confidence.

These are supplications that beautify our lives. May we be of those who call upon Allah, but then who answer His call so that we may embrace His response.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

The post Supplication for Facilitation: Quranic Supplications 3 appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I’ve been thinking about a question for a while. I know that justice is important in Islam, which comforts me because many people are wronged unjustly.

However, one thing that has stayed with me and bothered me is hearing that when non-Muslims convert to Islam, their sins are forgiven, but so are the wrongdoings they committed against others.

Suppose a non-Muslim wronged a Muslim, then converted to Islam and didn’t care about the Muslim or the individuals he wronged. How would those people find peace and comfort knowing that this person caused them pain, showed no remorse and that the wrongdoer is just relaxing in life?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

Allah Most High said, “Tell the disbelievers that if they desist, their past will be forgiven. But if they persist, then they have an example in those destroyed before them.” [Quran, 8:38]

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “When a servant embraces Islam and practices his Islam well, Allah will record every good deed and erase every bad deed that he did before it. After that, he will be held accountable. A good will be counted as ten like it, up to seven hundred times. An evil deed will be counted as one like it unless Allah Most High overlooks it.” [Nasa’i]

In another longer hadith reported by Ibn Shamasa Mahri (Allah be pleased with him), “(…) ʿAmr Ibn al-ʿAas (Allah be pleased with him) said (…), When Allah instilled the love of Islam in my heart, I came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and said: Stretch out your right hand so that I may pledge my allegiance to you. He stretched out his right hand, I withdrew my hand, he (the Holy Prophet) said: ‘What is wrong, ʿAmr?’ I said, ‘I wanted to stipulate a condition.’ he said, ‘What is the condition?’ I said, ‘That I be forgiven.’ he said, ‘Are you not aware that Islam wipes out all the previous (misdeeds)? Verily migration wipes out all the previous (misdeeds), and verily the pilgrimage wipes out all the (previous) misdeeds.’ (…).” [Muslim]

Scholarly Difference About Conversion Wiping Away Rights of Others

There is a difference of opinion among scholars on whether conversion to Islam wipes away financial or non-financial related injustices. Some scholars are of the opinion that converting to Islam wipes away all previous sins in its absolute form, be it any injustice or major and minor sins. Some say it only wipes away the rights of Allah Most High, as for the rights of fellow human beings, it will not be wiped away, whether the right is related to finance or not.

In reality, one must try to repay, apologize and seek forgiveness for any financial wrong, human pain, injustice, etc., even after conversion. This newly converted person should be reminded and guided to repent and seek forgiveness for the wrongs done to others, as mentioned by scholars in the above explanation.

Immense Hope from Allah Most High

However, it is possible that Allah Most High will forgive the person despite his previous wrongdoings to others before conversion by giving him an immense reward for his good actions and conversion, and also immensely rewarding and pleasing the wronged person by making him forget about the wrong done to him in the Worldly life. [Shabbir Usmani, Fath al-Mulhim]

Related: Does Conversion Wash Away Previous Sins? What About Rights of Others?

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Are the Wrongs Done by a Non-Muslim to Others before Conversion to Islam Forgiven? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I looked up whether Dove was halal. I went to the website titled “Let’s All Be Halal Here” and started browsing through it. It said that the Degree solid deodorants are halal. The dove goes sleeveless line is halal according to MCG (I can’t find info on MCG, though), and so are the sprays.

When I contacted the two companies, they said it depends on the source, which might be vegetable, beef, or pork. Because formulas might change, check the package for the most up-to-date information. Old spice is not guaranteed to be halal.

I’ve heard AXE employs animal components; do I need to contact them now?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

Dove products do not have a pig or its byproducts as ingredients. Some use animal ingredients. However, they go through a chemical transformation, thus permissible. Deodorants are permissible as they contain synthetic alcohol, not wine (khamr), which is impermissible and filthy. As a result, it is permitted for external uses such as perfumes, soaps, sprays, etc. [Mustafa Zarqa, Fatawa; Taqi Usmani, Takmilat Fath al-Mulhim; Fiqh al-Buyu’]

However, if you are unsure and it is causing you doubts and misgivings, then use products that are from a non-animal source, etc., like those shared in the links below.

Related:

• Our brands | Unilever
• Ethical Deodorant | Ethical Consumer
• Shop Organic & Natural Skincare From Seaweed
• Natural Soap Bars | Eco, Chemical Free, Organic & All Natural Ingredients
• Doubts – IPD Session #3 | COJ – an ISIP Youth Chapter Initiative
• The Application of Islamic Psychotherapy for the Treatment of OCD
• Key Principles Relating to Certainty, Doubt, and Baseless Misgivings (waswasa)
• A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings)
• Being Balanced – Emotional and Mental Health

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Are Products by Dove Companies Permissible to Use? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I am someone who regularly deals with the emission of Wadi. Sometimes, directly after prayer, I will check my underwear to see whether there has been an exit of this discharge, and there will be. However, I had no idea or indication while praying that there was any exit, as I couldn’t feel it. Does this mean I need to repeat the prayer?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

Your wudu broke when you saw Wadi after your prayer. Thus your prayer was valid, and you don’t have to repeat it.

The reason for this ruling is that, according to the Hanafi school, new events (in this case, the breaking of your wudu) are attributed to the closest time possible. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Manhal al-Waridin]

In your case, the closest time possible is right before you removed your clothes, which is an event that took place well after you have finished your prayer.

This legal principle is an application of another legal principle: “Certainty is not lifted by a doubt.” [Majalla]

Which is, in turn, based on the following verse of the Quran:

“Most of them follow nothing but conjectures. Surely, conjectures are of no avail in the matter of truth at all.” [Quran, 10:36] [al-Du‘ass, al Qawa‘id al-Fiqhiyya]

And Allah knows best.
Wassalam
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Does Seeing a Discharge on Underwear Directly After the Prayer Invalidate It? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

My friend is under 16 years old. He has recently started praying but always fasted even before that. He has had a foot fetish from a young age. When he got older, he used to watch “foot worship” videos a few times a week, but he stopped recently. He knows it’s haram, but he’s addicted.

He also has fantasized about feet and has said, “I want to worship her feet.” Was that shirk? He masturbated when he was 12.5 years old, and something came out. He doesn’t know if it was sperm. When he found out that masturbation was haram, then he sincerely repented and left this sin.

However, about two years ago, before he was praying regularly, he masturbated on his cousin’s shoes and didn’t know if sperm exited or not. He doesn’t know if he intended to “worship” the boots. Has he committed shirk? Is he a kafir? How does he repent and make up for this? Is he baligh? Does he truly fear Allah?

Answer

Please tell your friend that Allah is the Most Forgiving, Most-Merciful, and he should not despair from His mercy. Your friend was young, and Allah has guided him back to the truth by blessing him with praying five times a day. This means that Allah truly loves him, and he should continue on this path until he meets His Lord in sha Allah.

The phrase, “I want to worship her feet,” can be problematic in terms of committing a shirk. Now, in context, his intention was sexual and was not in terms of worshipping other than Allah. To remedy this situation, he should say to the Shahadatayn, “I testify that there is no God but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His messenger.” I believe he has already said this in his prayers. He should also repent and ask Allah that he not be manipulated by the Shaytan again or by the devices of his nafs (ego) and desires.

As for the incidents of masturbation, I believe that it was the sperm that exited and that he is an adult Islamically. He may have brought on his puberty through sin, but it is nevertheless puberty. He has repented for this alhamdulillah.

As for masturbating on the shoes, this does not make him a kafir, as he was just committing a haram out of lust, lack of control, and bad judgment. I am happy to hear that he has repented and regrets his actions, and I pray that he continues to strive in the path of Allah.

Hope in Allah’s Mercy

Encourage him to hope in Allah’s mercy and to prove his seriousness by gaining knowledge about the religion and applying it as best he can.

Find solace in this hadith: The Prophet, may Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “Allah, Blessed is He and Most High, said: ‘O son of Adam! Verily as long as you called upon Me and hoped in Me, I forgave you, despite whatever may have occurred from you, and I did not mind. O son of Adam! Were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky, then you sought forgiveness from Me, I would forgive you, and I would not mind. O Son of Adam! If you came to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth, and then you met Me not associating anything with Me, I would come to you with forgiveness nearly as great as it.’” [Tirmidhi]

Please see the following links:
Are Human Actions, Bida’, and Shirk Related …
Is Masturbation Sinful? How Do I Stop?

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post Does Masturbating Make Someone a Kafir? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Can I defend my mother when my father abuses her? My mother is sick with many illnesses because of old age. When she rests, he says she’s lying about being sick or just plain lazy. I try to help her clean and cook, but she doesn’t like it because of my father’s constant abusive language towards her.

My father calls her all sorts of names and threatens to kill her when all she does is stay at home, clean, and cook. He even throws my mother’s food at her or on the floor. He has cheated on her and forces her to please him sexually when my mother cannot due to her health.

I always defend my mother by insulting his actions and telling him that he is wrong, but it never works. Then he starts to threaten me and abuse me, too, for protecting her.

Answer

I empathize with your pain and difficulty with your abusive father. What he is doing is not right to his wife, and he is committing more than one unlawful deed in his treatment of her.

You are correct that it is not permissible to place your hands on him, but if your father does get physically violent with your mother, it is permissible for you to break them apart or insert yourself between them somehow to stop the madness or to shield your mother. You may also defend her when he verbally abuses her; this is akin to chivalry.

At saying this, it saddens me tremendously that a young woman has to endure this behavior at home, and I pray that you have an outlet or halal coping mechanism to deal with your emotions. Please talk to an imam, counselor, or elder who can help you channel your grief. Consider taking walks in nature, exercising, listening to Islamic odes, reading….etc.

Supplicate to Allah before dawn, pray the Prayer of Need, and use your free time for dhikr, Quran, gaining knowledge, and spending time with pious people. Despite the bad atmosphere at home, do something for yourself to help you grow spiritually.

This is how powerful your du’a is: The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “There are three whose supplication is not rejected: The fasting person when he breaks his fast, the just leader, and the supplication of the oppressed person; Allah raises it up above the clouds and opens the gates of heaven to it. And the Lord says: ‘By My might, I shall surely aid you, even if it should be after a while.’” [Tirmidhi]

Please see these excellent full answers on how to deal with an abusive father:
How Can I Help My Mother Despite My Abusive Father
How To Deal With a Verbally Abusive Father

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post Can I Defend My Mother From My Abusive Father? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

How can a woman perform a spiritual retreat (I‘tikaf)?

Answer

A woman may perform I‘tikaf in her home, in a quiet place that she designates for worship (musalla). She should be able to perform I‘tikaf without neglecting her responsibilities and duties to her family.

She should bide her time with prayer, dhikr, reading Quran, and seeking knowledge, and she should not be menstruating.

Please see this answer for full details and recommendations for a woman’s I‘tikaf:
The Spiritual Retreat (I‘tikaf)

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post How Can a Woman Perform a Spiritual Retreat (I’tikaf)? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I recently got married. My husband is divorced, but he still pays the ex-wife’s bills like her medical aid, levies for her home, utilities, groceries, WiFi, dstv movies, etc.

When I asked him why he is supporting her when she paid for nothing and yet insisted on taking the house, he said that he paid it because his kids lived there.

He isn’t paying my medical aid or cell phone bill, although he provides a roof over my head, groceries, and toiletries. What are my rights as his wife?

Am I being unreasonable when I ask him to pay for his kids’ bills only and say that because she demanded the house, she should be liable for the utilities, levies, and her own medical aid? Please advise what is correct.

Answer

A father is responsible for providing his children with food, shelter, and clothing commensurate to his own state. See this link for all the details:

What Are the Financial Responsibilities of a Man Regarding His Children From a First Marriage? 

This does not include the ex-wife’s personal bills. Usually, when a man covers his ex-wife’s personal bills, he does so to prevent her from having to go out to work so she can stay with his kids.

Your husband’s duty is to provide for you, so he should be covering your medical aid and cell phone bill, assuming he has the same things for himself. See this link:

Is It My Husband’s Duty to Provide For Me? 

Apart from the black and white of shari’a, I feel that it is very chivalrous for him to take care of his children and ex-wife; he will certainly be rewarded for such a great deed. However, if I were in your shoes, I would ask him not to pay for futile activities such as DSTV movies and other things that don’t benefit a Muslim. It would be wiser for him to put that money towards your needs.

Perhaps you can gently ask him to reconsider everything he is paying for and at least limit how long he will keep doing this. His ex-wife should also be encouraged to study, acquire a skill set, or think about where she can work once the children are older and don’t need to be provided for. It may be that when the children are older, they will provide for her. Your husband certainly should not.

Until then, paying for your own expenses would be a charity to him, and you should decide if you can continue like this or not without complaining. If you can’t, you should just be honest and open about it. This is nothing to apologize for; if he married you, he should have known that he should provide for you. May Allah reward you for your efforts and give you all the best in this world and the next.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post Is My Husband Supposed To Provide for His Ex-Wife? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.

The post Do I Need To Pay Zakat on the Cumulative Amount of This Ramadan or Last Ramadan? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

This year I learned about kaffara and a fast missed intentionally or broken; you have to fast 60 days straight or pay for two meals for 60 people.

When I was a child, I didn’t know the value or importance of fasting; I just knew we Muslims have to. I broke a fast intentionally when I was eleven, so I have to make kaffara for this now, even though I didn’t know. It’s been ten years, and I don’t t know how many other days I have broken fasts.

Some days I intended to fast but didn’t wake up for suhoor, so I thought I couldn’t do it because I would find it hard. Does this count as kaffara now?

I am so concerned I don’t know how to make time for all these days. It was only three years ago that I realized you have to make up fasts for periods, and I also have so many days for that for years. Can you help?

Answer

The kaffara is only due if you deliberately broke a fast in Ramadan. Missing a fast only requires making it up. The kaffara is fasting for sixty days continuously. You stop during the days of your menstrual cycle and resume straight after. If one cannot fast, only feeding people is permissible.

Fortunately, only one kaffara is required, even if one has broken fasts on many occasions. The point of it is to teach a lesson, and 60 consecutive fasts should be sufficient for that.

If the incident when you were 11 was an isolated one, if you had not yet reached puberty, you do not have to perform a kaffara. If there are other days, then you need to perform one. Start at least three days after the next Eid, as those days cannot be within the kaffara days. Winter is the easiest time.

Debts Owed to Allah

See these missed fasts and the kaffara as a debt you owe to Allah. One can’t get away from debt. If they are not taken care of in this life, they will have to be taken care of in the Akhira. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The debt [owed to] Allah has a greater  right to be paid.” [Ahmad]

You’ll be rewarded, and you’ll discharge your obligations. It’s a win either way.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.

The post How To Make Up or Expiate for Missed Fasts? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

If I am fasting and I apply lotion to my face, I lick the sides of my lips to my skin because my lips feel dry, and it feels like I got a taste of the lotion (I don’t know), is my fast still valid? If I apply vaseline to my lips and lick, then is my fast valid?

Answer

The fast is valid as the base assumption is you did not consume the lotion. Simply tasting it would not invalidate the fast.

You should, however, avoid licking your lips like this during the fast, especially if you have applied something to them, or avoid applying anything to them while you are fasting. [al-Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah; Ibn ‘Abidin, Hashiya]

[Ustadh] Salman Younas
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Born and raised in New York, Ustadh Salman Younas graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. After studying the Islamic sciences online and with local scholars in New York, Ustadh Salman moved to Amman. There he studied Islamic law, legal methodology, belief, hadith methodology, logic, Arabic, and tafsir. He is now in his final year of his PhD at Oxford University, looking at the early evolution of the Hanafi madhab.
His teachers include: Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, Shaykh Salah Abu’l Hajj, Shaykh Ashraf Muneeb, Shaykh Ahmad Hasanat, Shaykh Hamza Karamali, Shaykh Ahmad Snobar, Shaykh Ali Hani, Shaykh Hamza Bakri, Ustadh Rajab Harun and others.
Ustadh Salman’s personal interests include research into the fields of law/legal methodology, hadith, theology, as well as political theory, government, media, and ethics. He is also an avid traveler and book collector. He currently resides in the UK with his wife.

The post Is My Fast Valid if I Mistakenly Licked the Lotion on My Face? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Is it possible to pronounce “Kaf (ك)” inaudibly without a clicking noise? When reciting Sura Fatiha during salah, I was reciting inaudibly, and when reciting the word Maliki, I don’t know whether I pronounced Kaf correctly, as in if I hit the points of articulation or not. I’m having anxiety over this. Should I repeat my prayer? Or is this waswasa?

Answer

I pray you are well.

The ‘clicking’ sound you referred to is one of the characteristics of the letter kaf. It is one of the huruf al-hams (whispering letters), which all have a similar sound when pronounced. This sound occurs automatically when you take your tongue off your point of articulation.

Don’t worry about this issue too much, and don’t repeat your prayer. The rules of applying tajwid are not very stringent regarding the validity of the prayer. [Jazari, al Jazaiyya, Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Focus on having more presence of heart when praying. That will benefit you more. Please have a look at the excellent series Shaykh Salman Younas is teaching during Ramadan this year.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.

The post Is it possible to pronounce “Kaf (ك)” inaudibly without a clicking noise? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I ingested some medicine orally and nasally and could taste it despite rinsing my mouth and nose. This was before Fajr had come in and later till after it came in too. Is my fast valid?

Answer

Don’t worry. Merely tasting someone in your mouth, especially medication which usually has a lasting taste, will not invalidate your fast. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Your fast is valid. I look forward to a tremendous reward from Allah. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, ”Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and expecting a reward will have all his past sins forgiven.” [Bukhari]

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.

The post Is My Fast Valid if I Can Taste the Medicine Used Nasally? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍۢ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا 

“And those who say, ‘Our Lord, give us from our spouses and successive generations of offspring a pure joy to set eyes upon for their righteousness; And make us to the godfearing an exemplar.’” [Quran, 25:74]

This supplication is found in an amazing set of verses in Surat al-Furqan, the 25th Surah of the Quran.

These verses describe the best of believers: وَعِبَادُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ هَوْنًۭا – “The servants of The All Merciful are those who tread lightly on Earth.” An amazing description of the qualities of the true servants of Allah. 

Among the characteristics of the best of servants is that they regularly pray for themselves, their spouses and their family. And for all people, their spouses and families. “O Lord, gift us from our spouses and from our offspring” – and the word for offspring: dhurriyatina is all future generations of our children – “a joy for our eyes.” Ajoy that fills us completely with contentment.

That when we look at our spouses, when we look at our children, and when we pass on from this life and are shown the state and conduct of our future generations, we feel deep contentment. A joy for our eyes. 

Make Righteous Leaders of Us

But what are we seeking for ourselves, and our spouses and our children and likewise for all people and their spouses and children? وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا. Make us for your mindful servants, for your God fearing servants, true exemplars. Make us imams. An Imam is a leader. But it’s not a leader who wants to be ahead of others. An exemplar is one who leads people because of what they have of good qualities.

We don’t just ask: O Lord, make us good people, make us good believers. We ask Allah that He make us the best of His servants, and for the God fearing, the God conscious – the muttaqin – that we be examples of virtue, of goodness, for the best of His servants. That’s what we should seek for ourselves, for our families and for others: to fulfill our good and to be exemplars. We shouldn’t settle for paltry aspirations in our religious and spiritual life, but to ask for the highest of matters in the best of ways.

This is a beautiful supplication to make for ourselves, and our spouses, and our families, and for all people. We should have the courage to seek the fulfillment of that supplication through our conduct.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

The post Supplication for Righteous Families: Quranic Supplications 2 appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

If I wake up and there is like around 30 minutes left to pray, I go and urinate and urine drops continue for around 15-20 minutes, now I will have around 5 or so minutes to perform wudu and pray, what do I do?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate 

You should perform the minimal wudu, by just doing the fard washing of the limbs, and perform the fard prayer by doing the minimal recitations and supplications in the two fard rakat of fajr.

I pray this helps with your questions.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.

He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.

He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.

He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.

The post What Do I Do If I Have Few Minutes to Perform a Fard Prayer? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I want some advice regarding sending my child to the church on a school trip. As part of their learning, they are required to visit the church. Is it permissible for me to send my child? The school has assured them they will not participate in any worship.

Please reply as soon as possible because the school is requesting permission.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Allowing your son to go on a school trip to a church as part of his learning would be permissible. Teach your son to do any silent remembrance of Allah Most High while on the visit.

Jurists mention it is generally disliked to enter the places of worship of other faiths without reason, need, or benefit—and would particularly avoid others’ religious services. So as long as one wouldn’t be confused about one’s faith or compromise on one’s religious practice, it would be permissible as understood from the following hadith and reports mentioned below.

Um Habiba and Um Salama Entering a Church in Ethiopia

ʿAisha (Allah be pleased with her) narrates: Um Habiba and Um Salama (Allah be pleased with them both) told Allah’s messenger about a church that they saw in Ethiopia in which there were pictures. They told the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) about it, on which he said, “If any religious man dies amongst those people, they would build a place of worship at his grave and make these pictures in it. They will be the worst creature in the sight of Allah on the Day of Resurrection.” [Bukhari]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) Entering a Jewish Synagogue and Preaching

It has been reported by ʿAwf Ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him). One day the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and I went to a Jewish synagogue in Madina on one of their festivals. They hated that we made an appearance. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “O tribe of Jews! Show me twelve men from among you who testify that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger, and Allah will spare all the Jews under the heaven from the wrath He (has upon them) (…).” [Ahmad]

Umar Ibn Abdul Aziz Leading the Prayer in a Church

Uthman Ibn Hind (Allah be pleased with him) reports, I saw ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-Aziz leading people in prayer on top of a church, and people were beneath. [Ibn Abi Shaybah, Musannaf]

Ismail Ibn Rafi reports, he said I saw ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-Aziz leading the people in prayer in a church in the Levant. [Ibid.]

Azhar al-Harari reports that Abu Musa performed the prayer in a church in Damascus called St. John Church. [Ibid.] [IbnʿAbidin, Radd al-Muhtar; Rada al-Haq, Fatawa Darul ‘Ulum Zakariyya]

Related:
Entering a Church for Non-Religious Activities
Can I Go to Church with a Friend?

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Can I Send My Child on a School Trip to a Church? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Does a mispronunciation of the greeting of peace (as-salamu ‘alaikum) require prostrations of forgetfulness?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Prostrations of forgetfulness are only required when one unintentionally or accidentally leaves any necessary action. [Maydani, al-Lubab fi Sharh al-Kitab]

Mispronouncing the Salam does not fall under this category and thus does not require prostrations of forgetfulness.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post Does a Mispronunciation of the Salam Require Prostrations of Forgetfulness? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Must I remove a paper containing the transliteration of supplications that are pasted to the wall of the washroom?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

If the paper containing supplications is located in the toilet area of a medium to large washroom or a smaller-sized washroom, you should remove it. If the only way you can remove it entails ripping it, you have a few options:

1. Rip the paper off and shred it (ripping it into small pieces would suffice);
2. Cross out the Name of Allah Most High and that of the Messenger (may Allah bless him and give him peace). After that, you can leave or remove it as you’d like.

If it is located elsewhere, then the paper can remain where it is.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post Must I Remove a Paper with Dua Written on It That Was Pasted to the Washroom Wall? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I have a question regarding my period on the 1st of March. I no longer had the period from the 10th of March. I started to bleed, and since then, I have continued to bleed more and more. Is this irregular bleeding? Do I still have to pray?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

Your period ended after ten days on the 10th of March. And the continuing bleeding after that is irregular bleeding (istihada).

If the bleeding continues for more than ten days, then the number of days beyond your habit is considered irregular bleeding (istihada). So you will start praying as usual from day 11 onwards, fast if it is during the month of Ramadan, recite Quran and touch it, enter a mosque, perform Tawaf with wudu, and have intimacy with one’s husband. [Birgivi, Dhukhr al-Muta’ahhilin]

Advice

It is a personal obligation (fard) for every adult woman to learn the basic rules of menstruation and to ask, as you’ve done (in the case of a complicated or unique situation). The book Coming of Age by Ustadha Hedaya Hartford is a very accessible book for learning these rulings. It is in English and has many practical examples, life experiences, and even illustrative charts to calculate the menstruation.

Related:
How To Determine Periods With Dysfunctional Bleeding?
How Can I Figure Out My Regular Period as I have Irregular Vaginal Bleeding?
Menstruation: A Comprehensive Reader
A Muslim Woman’s Guide To Menstruation Rulings [Book]

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post When Is It Considered Irregular Bleeding (Istihada), and What Are the Rulings? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I have past trauma, which has affected my mental health and even my prayers; I am now in therapy, but I think it will take a while to heal. I live alone due to my family situation, which has made me more depressed at times. Can a person, in my case, get married?

I know it won’t solve all my problems, but I won’t have to do everything alone and can grow spiritually with a spouse. The other problem is that I am not sure about a wali. My father abandoned my family after my parents separated and divorced, and my oldest brother is in jail because he met the wrong people. My only other brother is younger than me, though, at 16, I believe he has reached puberty.

So who can be my wali if someone comes along for marriage?

Answer

Thank you for your question. I empathize with your situation and pray that you take steps to heal and strengthen your soul before embarking on marriage and raising children.

Marriage

Marriage requires a mountain of effort from the wife regarding pregnancy, nursing, and sleepless nights on top of being kind and attentive toward the husband. I don’t feel marriage is suitable for anyone still healing from their trauma, as marriage doesn’t cure it. Before entering any marital contract, please focus on bettering your state of mind and moving forward from your trauma for personal and spiritual growth. Your well-being and acquisition of Islamic knowledge are essential before considering raising a family.

Supplication

I ask that you learn or review your personally obligatory knowledge, pray on time, eliminate the haram from your life, make much remembrance of Allah, and see a Muslim counselor regularly in an effort to heal. Supplicate to Allah wholeheartedly, as He is the Healer. This supplication that was taught to us by the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is very beneficial:

”يا حَـيُّ يا قَيّـومُ بِـرَحْمَـتِكَ أَسْتَـغـيث أصْلِح لي شَأني كُلَّهُ ولا تَكِلْني إلى نَفْسي طَرْفة عَيْن.“

“O Ever-Living One, O Eternal One, by Your mercy, I call on You to set right all my affairs. Do not place me in charge of my soul even for the blinking of an eye (i.e., a moment).” [Hakim]

Please see these links as well:
Fighting Depression Through The Remembrance Of Allah
Is There a Prayer for Mental Well-Being

Wali

As for a guardian to conduct your marriage, you can ask your father if you can find him. If you can’t find him or he is unwilling to attend, inform him of your upcoming marriage. Otherwise, your younger brother is old enough and is next in line to be your guardian, as your older brother is unavailable.

Please see more details here:
Is It Valid to Marry without the Presence of a Wali (Guardian)?
What Are the Minimum Steps That Must Be Taken for a Marriage to Be Valid?
Marriage Contract Validity

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post Should I Get Married despite Past Trauma That I Haven’t Healed From? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Does it make clothes impure if dried urine is on the bathroom floor, water is poured over it, and it gets into contact with clothes?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

Scenario 1

If the urine has dried on the floor, and no traces (smell, color, taste) of it has remained, then the floor is deemed pure, and water running over it is pure. Thus the clothes affected by this water will also be pure. [Shurunbulali, Nur al-Idah]

Scenario 2

If urine has dried on the floor, and traces (smell, color, taste) of it are manifest on the ground, then the floor is deemed filthy. [Ibid]

If water running over these traces of urine remains unaffected by urine (i.e., no traces of urine are manifest in this water), then the water remains pure. Thus the clothes affected by this water will also be pure. [Ibid]

Scenario 3

It is only when traces of dried urine are still manifest on the floor and along with that traces of it (such as smell, color, or taste) are also present in the water that has passed over it that this running water becomes filthy. Thus, clothes affected by this water will also become filthy. [Ibid]

Reason for These Rulings

One: A ground affected by filth becomes pure merely by drying as long as the traces of filth are not manifested on it anymore.

The Messenger of Allah (Blessings and peace be upon him) has said: “The ground is purified when it dries.” This Hadith has been narrated in many books of Hanafi scholars, and its meaning is confirmed by Sahih Hadiths, including Hadiths narrated in Sunan Abi Dawud. [Ibn al-Humam, Fath al-Qadir]

Two: Running water remains pure as long as the traces of filth affecting it are not manifested in it because when water is running, the filth is moving and not staying where it was. Thus there is no way to be sure that the filth is present in a specific part of this water, as no traces are manifested, and the certitude of its purity is not lifted by doubts regarding its purity. [Based on al-‘Ayni, Binaya; Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

It is not a condition for running water to be supported by continuous water coming behind it, such as a river coming from a spring. Even a finite amount of water will take this ruling as long as it is running. An example would be the water thrown on the ground from a bucket. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

And Allah knows best.
Wassalam
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Will Water Running Over Dry Urine on the Floor Render My Clothes Filthy? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Is it sinful to ride in a car whose driver is breaking traffic laws, even if you tell him to do the right thing, but he continues to break the law? In this case, what should be done?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

If you are a passenger in a car where the driver is breaking the laws of the road, you will not be sinful. It is a sin upon the driver as he is committing it. You did what was right by advising him not to, although he continues breaking the law.

There are three ways and levels of faith to change wrongdoing being committed. First is by hand, the second is by the tongue like you have done in your case, and the third is by thinking of the wrongdoing as evil in one’s heart.

Whoever Sees Evil Should Change It If Possible

Abu Saʿid al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever among you sees evil, let him change it with his hand. If he cannot do so, then with his tongue. If he cannot do so, then with his heart, which is the weakest level of faith.” [Muslim]

Related: Obeying the Law of the Land in the West

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Is Being a Passenger in a Car Whose Driver Violates Traffic Laws Sinful? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Last Ramadan, I was still determining whether two of my fasts were valid, so I intended to make them up. I’ve learned that one, but most likely both, was valid. Should/do I still have to make them up, as I had made an intention?

What is the ruling of fasting in the second half of Sha‘ban?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

If you have now learned that two of your fasts were valid, despite making an intention to make up (qada) the fasts, you are not obliged to do so.

Fasting after the Second Half of Sha‘ban

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “When the first half of Sha‘ban is finished, do not fast.” [Tirmdhi, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban]

In the Hanafi school, there is no prohibition on fasting in the second half of the month. However, it is disliked to fast a day or two before Ramadan.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) advised people not to fast towards the end of Sha‘ban so that it doesn’t affect them and make them weak for Ramadan. If a person is strong and healthy and is certain fasting towards the end of Sha`ban will not affect his strength for Ramadan, then it will be permissible.

Month People Neglect between Rajab and Ramadan

Usama ibn Zayd (Allah be pleased with him) reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting any month as much as you fast during Sha’ban.” The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “It is a month people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Lord of the worlds, and I like for my deeds to be raised while I am fasting.” [Nasa’i]

Related Answers:

• MakeUp Fasts Archives
• Fasting: A Comprehensive SeekersGuidance Reader
• The Ramadan Reader
• Welcoming the Month of Sha’ban

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post What If I Intended to Make Up Fasts That I Doubted and Then Learned They Were Valid? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

SM: I don’t think the Christian theologians have done much to answer this question. But the Muslim theologians, not only have they answered the question, they’ve actually transformed it into an immense blessing and a spiritual subject that revives your spirituality in such a way that is unbelievable. And that subject is evil. 

If God is so merciful why do all these bad things happen to people? Why is it that people cannot reconcile the idea that the Creator has mercy and the concept that bad things happen to them? That’s what we’re going to explore today.

The Definition of Good and Evil

Uthman: The first question that we have would be: what is the definition of Good and Evil in Islam? Do we have a conception? For example you have something that’s Haram and something that’s Halal. Now, something that is halal, would we consider that to be the essence of good itself? And something that’s Haram – is that evil? Are these two the fiqh definition? And this other definition of Good and Evil, are they separate from each other?

SFR: So if we can just step back just a little bit from that. Very often things only make sense if you understand why they are the way they are. If you come to a building and you’re trying to enter from all over. What’s up with this structure? I can’t get in. But you understand that a building needs walls. There’s a door. If you want to get in just go to the door. But then you get to the door and it’s not opening. Well, there’s a buzzer. So you kind of need a little bit of instruction so that you know how to get into the building. That’s not being unfair because a building without walls wouldn’t exist.

Similarly, to understand many of these things, one of the challenges with Islam, for us as Muslims, is that there are rules and teachings related to everything. Things don’t make sense unless you understand why they are the way they are. A lot of people pray yet they don’t really consider: why am I praying? Or this is what I believe, but why do I believe what I believe? 

Hardships and Tribulations

The first thing to appreciate regarding rules. Growing up I was really lazy. I wouldn’t do anything unless I knew why. You’d have to convince me. – Someone says: Get me a glass of water. Why do you need water? – It’s actually a good thing to ask. We shouldn’t hesitate to ask. Very often depending on our upbringing we’re told not to ask too many questions. Or we fear that if we ask it is somehow not right. 

The first thing to appreciate is: Who is Allah and why there are rules. One of the simplest ways is if you look at what we open all our actions with. “We say Bismillah al Rahman al Rahim.” By the name of Allah, the All-Merciful and the particularly Merciful. If you consider that. Who is Allah himself? He is the the All-Merciful, al Rahman. His Mercy encompasses everything and that includes both what He creates – there’s Mercy, and what He [legislates], what the rules of Islam are, there’s Mercy in them. 

The difference [is] between Allah being al Rahman, the encompassingly merciful, and al Rahim, the particularly merciful. One of the ways that’s explained is that the particularly merciful relates to the believer. That whatever happens to you, or whatever the ruling is, the mercy is found if you respond to it as a believer. 

Allah being al Rahman, encompassingly merciful. Everything, even creating, is Mercy. Because if you didn’t exist – I mean there’s nothing possibly worse than not existing – but once you exist as a Believer you can attain Allah’s Mercy by responding as a Believer to any particular situation. Whether it’s what happens to you or a particular ruling that appears to be difficult or disadvantageous. “I did something wrong now I have to…” 

Let’s say, if I slandered somebody, I have to apologize and clarify to people that I shouldn’t have done that. “Why’d I have to do all of that? Where is the mercy in it?” The mercy in it is if you realize: “How exactly do I respond to it?” That’s how we view even the most difficult of rulings.

Existence Is a Mercy

Uthman: So, a question that you brought up was existence itself being a mercy. A lot of people I who face depression don’t see it that way. I’m also reminded of the story of Miriam when she’s giving birth. She said: قَالَتْ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى مِتُّ قَبْلَ هَـٰذَا وَكُنتُ نَسْيًۭا مَّنسِيًّۭا – “O, I wish I had died before this and were gone, forgotten.” [Quran 19:23] Why would she be making this dua or this wish if she knew that to exist was a mercy?

SFR: It’s not unusual to feel overwhelmed. When one does feel overwhelmed there’s a difference between your reaction and your response. Sometimes, at the moment of being overwhelmed you may react in a way that is just the beginning of your response. That’s one of the ways the scholars of tafsir have explained that. That’s just the beginning of her response. 

You see that with many of the Sahaba, Allah be pleased with them. Even some of the great prophets, peace be upon them. That’s just part of the weakness of the human condition. The reality is that Allah tells us the human being has been created weak. 

Part of our weakness is that when we initially look at something it can seem huge, overwhelming, unbearable. But if we stop and reflect and consult, if we contextualize it and consider outcomes, then, we can see the reality that Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity. 

In those situations where things seem overwhelming, that’s natural because life is meant to be testing. How you initially feel is not rejected. That’s your initial reaction. But then you do have to step back – consider, consult, contextualize, and then you see wisdom in the way things are. That helps you respond in a way that you can see the mercy in it very clearly.

Our Relation to Allah

SM: I would add that Surah al A‘raf [Quran 7:1-206] gives us so much. It builds upon what you just said. I want to point everyone to what you just said. Mercy is if you act upon or react to a tribulation as a believer. So it is around verse 54, 55, and 56. It begins by describing Allah Most High as the Creator. The creator of the heavens and of the Earth. Then He says this creation is all His – أَلَا لَهُ ٱلْخَلْقُ وَٱلْأَمْرُ – “Clearly, the creation and the command are His,” [Quran7:54] which is an extremely important reminder about what justice is and what justice isn’t.

If this is mine, and this is mine, and my phone is mine, and the ring is mine, nobody can tell me what to do with it. There’s never an injustice in how I handle my own possessions. That’s the first thing. لَهُ ٱلْخَلْقُ وَٱلْأَمْرُ – “the creation and the command are His,” and the Sharia [the command] being His Law. 

It then calls for drawing near to Allah by dua. ٱدْعُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًۭا وَخُفْيَةً – “Call upon your Lord meekly and softly.” [Quran 7:55] Call upon Him in good times and in bad times. Loudly and silently. In every possible way. That’s how you’re going to fulfill your position as a creation. You fulfill your position by praying to this Creator. That’s the relationship.

Now, verse 56 is so important. وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ – “Don’t corrupt the earth.” [Quran 7:56] Meaning, the vast majority of bad things that happen are caused by humans. It’s us who do them. And someone says, well, what about the Hurricanes that happen in Florida and destroy so many homes? Hold on a second, you don’t know that hurricanes happen there? You live there. You took your own self and you went there. So, even in natural disasters, it’s something that human beings in a sense are part of. 

It’s maybe not our direct fault, but setting that aside, the corruption of human beings is a large source of a lot of diseases and problems. 

بَعْدَ إِصْلَـٰحِهَا وَٱدْعُوهُ خَوْفًۭا وَطَمَعًا ۚ إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

“…after it is made right. Call upon Him with fear and hope. The mercy of Allah is near those who do good.” [Quran 7: 56]

Another reminder. This is an ayah that’s so important. If people are asking: where is the mercy here? Where is the mercy there? Allah says, if you want to know where the mercy is in anything you can’t find it if you are not in a spiritual state of ihsan. To cite what some secularists may say, Einstein said, You cannot solve a problem with the same mentality by which it was created. 

So, if your consciousness and your mentality has a certain level, that’s the reason the problem exists in the first place. You can’t solve it at that same level. You actually have to elevate your consciousness to a higher level now to be able to see this from a bird’s eye view. Move a couple pieces. Then, you realize what’s going on. You physically have to change your spiritual state completely in order to see the wisdom behind something. And see the mercy. 

Allah pointed to that two times in this series of ayahs. Make dua. Make dua. And dua, what does it require? It requires a great amount of humility. It requires belief. It’s ‘ibada. It’s all actually ‘ibada. So, I think it’s important to say that the first point you made here: Evil tends to be something people find no mercy in. Yet Allah tells you you will find mercy in it, but you have to change yourself first. You have to become one of the مُحْسِنِينَ – those who do good.

This Is Not the Meal

SFR: Part of it is also that if you look at things just from the perspective of this life, life itself is brutal. You’re going to die. There’s nothing more final than death. It’s a losing proposition. But things only make sense if you consider that this isn’t your life. You have a hereafter, personally. Secondly, you have a Lord. And you have to consider who Allah is. 

Ibn ‘Ata Illah al Sikandari, one of the Great imams of Islamic spirituality says: “Let It diminish the pain of your tests, your tribulations, to know that it is He, Allah, who is testing you. Are you accustomed to anything from him except that which is good to you?” 

So, sometimes, when there is a test rather than immediately reacting: this happened! You have to kind of pause and take things back to Allah. Which is why one of the deeply neglected acts of remembrance is to say: إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ – “Truly we are Allah’s and truly it is to Allah that we are returning.” [Quran 2:156] This is said not only at the time of death. 

Allah says: ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَٰبَتۡهُم مُّصِيبَةٞ – “Those whom a misfortune befalls…” [Quran 2:156] That relates to when you hear about death, about anything else. If something happens. You get sick, you lose your eyesight temporarily, or whatever. You have to realize: Truly we are Allah’s and truly it is to Allah that we are returning.” He is the merciful and as believers we know there’s a hereafter. 

We also have to understand that this life is an exam room. Anything you get in this life is like snacks during your exam. It’s an add-on. The reward, the good that you find, is not in this life. It’s in the next life. That’s also important to appreciate. Ultimately, the good that you’re seeking, the comfort that you’re seeking, the joy that you’re seeking is not in this life. That‘s just an add-on.

Well, while writing in the exam I get to drink some coffee. There’s some water. There’s some snacks. But that’s not the meal.

The post Good and Evil in Islam appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I don’t follow a specific madhab and don’t plan on doing so. I usually follow the correct view (from IslamQA.info, for example) or a view that convinces me, irrespective of the school of thought. I emit madhy generally. I have read IslamQA.info answer no: 317610 on what to do after the emission of madhy, and I follow the stricter and correct view.

Can I instead follow the less strict view of only washing the place of emission and where it got onto because it will be easier for me and not burdensome? I have read that difference of opinions between madhabs is a way of mercy. I do not take dispensations as a habit; if I recall correctly, this is the first time I am actively seeking a dispensation and thus being careful about it.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

The correct view in the relied-upon position of all four schools is that pre-seminal fluid is impure. Additionally, the place it contacts must be washed if it exceeds the maximum excused amount. [al-Mawsu’a al-Kuwaitiyya al-Fiqhiyya]

It is only required to wash the testicles if the pre-seminal fluid comes in contact with them. [Ibid.]

This is the majority view, although some details of the above are nuanced in each school. [Ibid.]

Knowledge by Transmission

The Sacred Law of Islam has been passed down through a chain of transmission since the time of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) till today.

The great ‘Abdullah bin Mubarak (Allah have mercy on him) said, “The chain of transmission is part of the religion (din); if it were not for it, whoever wished could say whatever they want.” [Muslim]

Adhering to the Vast Majority

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Indeed, Allah will not gather my community on misguidance. Allah’s support (yad) is with the group. Whoever breaks off breaks off towards the Hellfire.” [Tirmidhi]

He said, “…Stick to the vast majority.” [Ibn Maja]

The vast majority of the Sunni Mainstream has the following three characteristics:

They following the creed of Islam as codified by the Imams Abu al-Hasan al-Ash’ari, Abu Mansur al-Maturidi, and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal.

The following, formally or informally, one of the four schools of legal thought, that of Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik bin Anas, Imam Muhammad bin Idris al-Shafi, and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal.

They follow, formally or informally, one of the recognized, formalized spiritual paths.

Recommended Websites

You can find answers, based on the above stipulations of the Sunni mainstream, from the following sites:

SeekersGuidance
AskImam
IslamQA

These websites should suffice any questions you have.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best

[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he then completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post Can I Take a Dispensation That Allows the Mere Washing of the Place Where Pre-Seminal Fluid Reached? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I am an introverted person. From a young age, I wanted marriage, but I pursued my education and stayed away from the haram with Allah’s blessing. I knew marriage was the only way to deal with desires, and I shouldn’t marry until I could provide. It wasn’t easy to restrain, but I did. Then I moved to the West and settled. I live alone, and it’s tempting here.

I decided to get married, so I got engaged and had my nikah, but the wedding had been delayed for a couple of years. My wife and I don’t know much about each other, and we barely talk because she believes we should keep apart until the wedding.

I don’t want to sin, but it’s getting so hard. I cry and don’t know what to do or whom to talk to. Is there any du’a that I can make because I know only Allah can help?

Answer

Your question saddened me, and I feel much empathy for your struggles. Allah is the Giver of success and has given you victory in restraining your desires. May He reward you amply for that and continue to provide you with success in everything you do.

It is correct that you have a nikah with your wife, so there is no problem with you talking to her and getting to know her better. I am unsure how you can convince her, but you are both halal to each other.

This is a great time to feel connected to her so you can enjoy your time with her better after the wedding. Perhaps you can ask her to look at this website and find the answers she is seeking Islamically. Ask her if her parents are preventing her; maybe they don’t understand that it’s OK for you to talk. Then you would have to convince them first.

The first thing is to lower your gaze on women and avoid TV shows, music videos, or movies that freely expose one to naked women and lewd behavior. This temptation will undoubtedly make things worse.

Besides this, the best thing you can do is fast, according to the Prophet’s advice (Allah bless him and give him peace). The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “O young people! Whoever among you can marry should marry because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e., his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse, etc.), and whoever is not able to marry should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power. “[Bukhari] Fast at least twice a week, you will think about your dinner instead of your desires.

Exercise every day, go for a jog, play a sport, or lift weights. Get in shape, and build some muscle. Make sure you sweat and cut down on red meat, as this increases one’s desire.

Prepare Yourself for Marriage

Also, prepare yourself for marriage. You have six months ahead; take a free course at Seekers on the spirit of marriage, and learn your rights and obligations in it. Take other courses, such as how to raise children and something on purification.

Another perfect outlet is friends. Good religious friends are so important in times like this; they give you relief from stress, you can talk to them, you can invite them for food or go to their place. They can be a man’s best remedy. Please reach out to some good people you know and initiate some socializing; it will go a long way in sha Allah. Our religion is social, so it would do you some good if you could fight your introverted nature and see people more.

Seek Assistance from Allah Most High

Last but not least, make du’a. Allah is the All-hearing, All-Knowing. Get up before fajr, and ask Allah to help you through this tough time. Pray the Prayer of Need and tahajjud.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) told us, “When half of the night or two-thirds of it is over. Allah, the Blessed, and the Exalted descends to the lowest heaven and says: Is there any beggar so that he be given? Is there any supplicator so that he be answered? Is there any beggar of forgiveness so that he be forgiven? (And Allah continues it saying) till it is daybreak.” [Muslim]

Also, see the links below. May Allah give you prosperity and guidance in every step of your life.
Controlling Sexual Desires When Marriage Is “ut on Hold””
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post How To Control Sexual Urges if Wedding Is Delayed? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I am a young Muslim teen at 17 yrs old, and I want to change my name soon when I get older. I want to change it to Yunus, but I am confused about how to spell the name correctly. I saw people spell it as Yoonus, Younus, Yunis, etc.

I also want to add a middle name. Is it spelled as Abd Al Qadeer, or is Abdul Qadeer the correct one spelling it? I ask that your explanation gives me an accurate understanding. Is Abdullah also correct, or is it Abd Allah? Please help me with this, as I want a good name.

Answer

There is no right or wrong way with regard to the transliteration of names. Different communities generally developed their own transliteration system that others may consider wayward. By way of example, my name is spelled as Abdurragmaan, which is very strange according to many communities, though accepted by mine. Another example would be some Arab communities that would spell Omar with an O rather than Umar with a U. They would say ben, which means son of, with an e, instead of the usual bin with an I.

However, there are standards of transliteration. The most commonly used standard by most scholars and writers would spell the names you asked about as follows:

Yūnus
‘Abd al-Qādir.
‘Abd Allah

It is also common to spell names without diacritical marks. See here by way of example:

Yunus
Abd al-Qadir.
Abdullah

And Allah knows best

[Shaykh] Abdurragmaan Khan
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdurragmaan Khan received ijazah ‘ammah from various luminaries, including but not restricted to: Habib Umar ibn Hafiz—a personality who affected him greatly and who has changed his relationship with Allah, Maulana Yusuf Karaan—the former Mufti of Cape Town; Habib ‘Ali al-Mashhur—the current Mufti of Tarim; Habib ‘Umar al-Jaylani—the Shafi‘i Mufti of Makkah; Sayyid Ahmad bin Abi Bakr al-Hibshi; Habib Kadhim as-Saqqaf; Shaykh Mahmud Sa’id Mamduh; Maulana Abdul Hafiz al-Makki; Shaykh Ala ad-Din al-Afghani; Maulana Fazlur Rahman al-Azami and Shaykh Yahya al-Gawthani amongst others.

The post How To Properly Transliterate Arabic Names Into English? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I have a question about this Hadith: Ibn Maajah (4245) narrated from Thawbaan (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “I certainly know people of my ummah who will come on the Day of Resurrection with good deeds like the mountains of Tihaamah, but Allaah will make them like scattered dust.” Thawbaan said: O Messenger of Allaah, describe them to us and tell us more so that we will not become of them unknowingly. He said: “They are your brothers and from your race, worshipping at night as you do, but they will be people who, when alone, transgress the sacred limits of Allaah.”

Ibn Hajar al-Haythami (may Allah have mercy on him) in al-Zawaajir (3/49) regarded it as pretending to be righteous outwardly and transgressing the sacred limits; even committing minor sins when one is alone is viewed as something significant, and he quoted this hadeeth as evidence and said: The one whose habit is to make a show of being good and concealing his evil ways causes more harm and misguidance to the Muslims because he has no piety and no fear of Allah. End quote.

I pray, fast, do good deeds, give sadaqah to Muslim foundations, remove obstacles from streets, etc., regardless of if there are people nearby or not. My intention is not to show off to other people. I intend to please Allah (SWT) as much as I can. But I commit sins as well, and some are hard to overcome, but I am young and in high school, so hopefully, I will get over it soon.

Also, I was born and lived in Sweden, and my father is from Palestina, and my mother is from Syria. However, I listen to music and do it both where there are people and alone, and I ask Allah to forgive me. But unfortunately, I do masturbate sometimes, and I am terrified that this Hadith is referring to me. Because I do good deeds, but when I am alone, I sometimes masturbate because it is very embarrassing and dishonorable to masturbate in front of people. What should I do and who is this Hadeeth really referring to? Is it referring to hypocrites?

Also, I asked someone, and he said (he wasn’t a scholar) that it referred to people who commit sins and don’t repent when alone. But it can’t be because if you repent of bad deeds, Allah will wipe them out. So the bad deeds on the scale on the day of judgment are obviously deeds that someone hasn’t repented from.

Answer

It is necessary to understand two crucial foundations before explaining the above hadith:

Allah is Most Forgiving

Allah has told us clearly in sura al-Nisa that He forgives all sins except shirk, ascribing partners to Him. He, Most High, said, “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray.” [Quran, 4:116]

The verse clarifies that Allah Most High forgives all the sins, public or secret, of those who repent and turn to Him seeking forgiveness.

Sinning in Private is a Lesser Evil Than Sinning in Public

In most instances, our Sacred Law considers sinning in private less reprehensible than sinning in public. Many traditions of the Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) establish this. Consider the following hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah (Allah be pleased with him) in the Sahih compilations of Muslim and Bukhari: The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “My entire nation will be forgiven except those who sin in public. Among them is a man who commits an evil deed at night (in private). He then wakes up in the morning with Allah having concealed his crime, and says, O so and so, last night I did this and that. Thus His Lord concealed his nocturnal wrong and he exposed him,self in the morning.”

The hadith of Thawban

Bearing in mind these foundations, the question is how do we understand the narration of Thawban?

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said that when they are alone, they are guilty of intihak of the prohibitions of Allah. Intihak does not only mean to transgress as you mentioned I,n the translation above. Intihak encompasses the meaning of deeming insignificant (istikhfaf) and ridiculing (istihdar). Accordingly, the one referred to in the hadith above does not hold Allah’s Law in high regard. He considers disobeying Allah as something light and insignificant. Such a person’s belief is questionable and thus the Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) said that his actions, even though they are as great as the mountains of Tihamah, will be like scattered dust. For the one who disobeys Allah with ease, thinking nothing of Allah and His Law, and only worships Him in public, is certainly not doing so out of love, reverence and sincerity.

The fact that you are writing to us, fearing that the narration of Thawban (Allah be pleased with him) may be referring to you, speaks of one who sinned with much remorse and regret, not one that thought little of his Lord. Thus, while it is essential that you repent to Allah Most High for your crime, the hadith of Thawban most certainly does not refer to you.

Addiction

Masturbation is sinful. Attempting to overcome it by oneself may be very challenging. Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, however, gives good advice and insight on how one may stop himself from falling into it here

Is Masturbation Sinful? How Do I Stop?

However, for many people masturbation is an addiction. Like most addictions, you may require further guidance and support. One of our students is currently teaching a very beneficial course on addiction entitled “Breaking the Habit.” You may find those classes on the Dar al-Turath YouTube channel.

And Allah knows best

[Shaykh] Abdurragmaan Khan
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdurragmaan Khan received ijazah ‘ammah from various luminaries, including but not restricted to: Habib Umar ibn Hafiz—a personality who affected him greatly and who has changed his relationship with Allah, Maulana Yusuf Karaan—the former Mufti of Cape Town; Habib’ Ali al-Mashhur—the current Mufti of Tarim; Habib’ Umar al-Jaylani—the Shafi’i Mufti of Makkah; Sayyid Ahmad bin Abi Bakr al-Hibshi; Habib Kadhim as-Saqqaf; Shaykh Mahmud Sa’id Mamduh; Maulana Abdul Hafiz al-Makki; Shaykh Ala ad-Din al-Afghani; Maulana Fazlur Rahman al-Azami and Shaykh Yahya al-Gawthani amongst others.

The post How To Seek Repentance From Sins and Get Closer to Allah? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I am 20 years old, but before puberty, I didn’t pray properly, and 1) I would sit during prayers when I had no valid reason to and speed through them. 2) Sometimes, I prayed after doing the act of masturbating without performing a ghusl. To the best of my knowledge, I don’t believe I knew then that doing so would invalidate my prayer.

After puberty, at times, I performed prayers sitting down while on planes, and I’m not sure if I made all of them up, and another time, after puberty, I traveled to another country. I shortened my prayers for the first 3-4 weeks.

If I can pray in the congregation but choose to pray alone, does that invalidate the prayer? Do I need to repeat any of these prayers above?

I masturbated while I was fasting during the month of Ramadan; I don’t believe at the time that I knew that it broke the fast. I think the last time I did this was when I was 13 or 14. What do I do?

I’ve often downloaded books online for free (digital copies easily found), torrented courses, and watched stuff online via YouTube (uploaded wrongfully by others) or other copyrighted platforms. Do I have to put every dollar I make into paying back for everything I can remember – as long as it’s permissible?

Can I do it gradually when I have a stable income? I don’t even remember everything that I’ve accessed over the years. Do I have to obsess about finding everything I’ve used for free over the years that was copyrighted? There were also times when I got a refund for something and didn’t give a valid reason so that I could get the money back and use it for other things. I stopped doing this, but I’m unsure how to resolve the past.

Does having doubts about religion take me out of the fold of Islam if I’m sincerely looking for the truth? Islam is what makes the most sense to me. However, I’ve doubted whether it’s the absolute and only truth.

Answer

1) and 2) occurred before puberty, so you don’t need to make up those prayers. 3) Please see this answer about praying on a plane. If you need to make them up, estimate how many you have left and make them up gradually.

Can I Pray on a Plane

When you traveled to another country for several weeks, you were a resident and not a traveler. Please see this answer and calculate how many prayers you should make up.

What are the Basic Rulings of Prayer During Travel?

If you choose to pray alone when you can pray with a group, it is disliked, but the prayers are still valid. See this answer:

Praying Alone in the Mosque and Joining a Person Who Intended Praying Alone

Please discern how many times you masturbated while fasting after you reached puberty and see this article about making them up.

Is Expiation Required for Masturbating While Fasting

Please see all the links for copyright and intellectual property rights:

The Question of Illegal Downloading
What is the Ruling on Intellectual Property Rights
Does Copyright Law Violate Islamic Ownership Rights by Denying the Right to Pass on or Sell Your Property Freely

No, having doubts about Islam does not take you out of Islam, and you should learn more to eliminate your doubts. Consider taking a course at Seeker on belief, and see these answers:

Truth, Other Religions, and Mysticism
Why Islam is True: God and Science
Can Truth by Found in Every Religion

May Allah give you tawfiq for striving toward Him.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post How to Expiate for My Past Sins? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

My 18-year-old son first decided to stop praying because he didn’t agree with Islam anymore and didn’t believe the stories told in the Qur’an. He was aware that this makes one an apostate.

He would not change his mind, so we asked him not to tell his siblings and just to join us when we prayed together. He stopped agreeing to that too.

Soon after, I found out about his girlfriend and told him that we would never have anything to do with her and never want to know her. He has no moral problem with it as he feels he is not Muslim, but I wonder whether ignoring her existence is correct.

Should we get to know her? Will he find comfort with her family? Will she get pregnant? We believe Allah can and will guide him.

Answer

The best answer I can give you concerning your son’s religion is this answer by Ustadha Umm Umar:

How Should I Handle a Teenager Who Wants to Give up on Islam

Please see these links as well:

I Struggle With My Parents and Worried About My Parents Who Do Not Pray? What Do I Do?
My Teenager is Disrespectful and Has No Empathy. What Do I Do? 

Here is a beautiful dua of a parent for you:

The Powerful Dua of a Parent

If I were in your shoes, I would meet this young girl so that you could tell her about Islam. If your son doesn’t listen to you, maybe she will become interested, and he will listen to her. Be very grateful that he is still respectful and listens to you when you talk. I can tell you have a good relationship with him, which is the key to all this. Keep your bond with him strong.

Fear not about your son’s religion. I am positive that he will come back to the deen. Allah may give him a big trial or painful test that will drag him back to the religion, or he will feel empty and shallow for so long that he will return to what he once knew. Perhaps, when he has his own children and must raise them, he will see Islam as the only thing to teach them.

Please see this article; it might help answer some of your son’s questions or address his issues.
Atheism and Islam

May Allah give you tawfiq and strengthen you through this.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post How To Safeguard My Son From Bad Influences and Keep Him Focused on Islam? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

When washing the face in wudu, I would start from the bottom of the chin to the top of the hairline and my ears instead of starting from the top of the hairline. Is my wudu valid?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

Yes, your wudu is valid. Washing the face from the forehead down is recommended but does not affect the wudu’s validity. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best

[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he then completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post Is My Wudu Valid if I Wash My Face From the Chin to the Forehead? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Is it true that a woman can give birth and then doesn’t have to take care of the children by shari’a? Meaning that she is not sinful if she doesn’t because the man is responsible for the children?

If the mother wants the baby to have a shaykh, must she get the father’s permission first? Is the father responsible for his children’s actions on the Day of Judgement, not the mother? Also, is it true that a husband’s only right over his wife is intercourse? Can you advise of husband and wives’ rights, please?

Answer

It is true that once a woman gives birth, the father must see that the baby is nursed. This can be through the mother or by employing a wet nurse. The father is ultimately responsible for a child’s care, whether the mother agrees to do it or not.

I am unclear about what you mean by the baby having a shaykh. It is sunna for a baby to have tahneek. This is the softening of a date in someone’s mouth that is then put in the baby’s mouth; a scholar or imam could do this. I am not sure what other involvement a shaykh would have. Please see this answer about the sunnas of a newborn:

What Acts Are Recommended After Giving Birth to a Child?

Both parents are responsible for a child’s upbringing on the Day of Judgment; see this link about children’s right to a good upbringing:

Rights of Children in Detail
Raising Children with Deen and Dunya

The following is taken from the Reliance of the Traveller, [pp 948-949]

A Wife’s Marital Obligations in the Shafi’i School

w45.1 (Abu Ishaq Shirazi:) A woman is not obliged to serve her husband by baking, grinding flour, cooking, washing, or any other kind of service, because the marriage contract entails, for her part, only that she let him enjoy her sexual, and she is not obligated to do other than that. (A: Rather, it is considered sunna in our school for the wife to do the housework, and the husband (who is obliged to support her) to earn a living, since this is how the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) divided the work between Fatima and ‘Ali (Allah be well pleased with them) (al-Muhadhdhab fi fiqh al-Imam al-Shafi’i (y125), 2.68).

A Wife’s Marital Obligations in the Hanafi School

w45.2 (Nahlawi:) The wife’s serving her husband at home–by cooking, cleaning, and baking bread–is religiously obligatory for her, and if she does not, she is committing a sin, though it is not something that she may be forced to do by the court [al-Durar al-mubaha fi al-hazr wa al-ibaha (y99), I72].”

As you can see from the above, a woman’s obligations differ according to the two schools, but a man has more than just the right to intercourse with his wife. He has the right that she lives with him in goodness, not waste his money, and contribute to a healthy and happy marriage. Any woman who neglects these things without reason will not succeed and may find deep-seated resentment in her husband. This is contrary to this hadith. It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, what type of wife is best? He said, ‘The one who makes (her husband) happy when he looks at her, and she obeys him if he instructs her to do something, and she does not do anything with regard to herself or his wealth in a manner of which he does not approve.’”[Ahmad]

I recommend that you take the following free courses on marriage at Seekers in order to learn your marital obligations and rights:

Keys to Succesful Muslim Marriages: Practical Lessons that Explain the Prophetic Spirit of Marriage
Marriage in Islam: Practical Guidance for Successful Marriage

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post Can You Advise of Husband and Wives’ Rights and Responsibilities in Islam? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I feel that Islam is making me lose my motivation in life. I understand that this life is a test, and our only goal is to one day reach Heaven, but because of that, I find it hard to find motivation for any worldly matters.

What’s the point of having a career, finding a spouse, or doing something difficult to help people? Wouldn’t it just be the same to pray and make du’a, and that’s it?

Answer

I am sorry that you have lost motivation for worldly matters. I pray that you can recover your zeal and be in this world as the Prophet was (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).

The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “The most beloved of people according to Allah is he who brings the most benefit to people, and the most beloved of deeds according to Allah the Mighty, the Magnificent, is that you bring happiness to a fellow Muslim, or relieve him of distress, or pay off his debt or stave away hunger from him. It is more beloved to me that I walk with my brother Muslim in his time of need than I stay secluded in the mosque for a month.” [Tabarani]

The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) himself is an example and model for perfection and utmost piety. He fought in wars, worked with his Companions, built a mosque, established rule, and reconciled people; the list is endless.

His whole lifestyle was based on productivity to help the Muslims rise and establish a government for themselves so they could believe, freely practice their religion without oppression, and be a caliph on Earth for Allah.

If Allah had wanted us to sit at home and worship all day, society would be in turmoil; people would be starved and poverty-stricken, there would be no improvements or development, and corruption would increase from allowing unIslamic laws to rule the people. Rather, every person is responsible for using his limbs in a way that pleases Allah and helps Islam.

It is not possible for one to sit, but rather, reflect on the hadith above and be avid to bring the most benefit you can. Every single thing that you do for Allah is worship.

This includes driving, shopping, cooking, working, cleaning, talking, bathing, sleeping, and even intercourse. Why be content with just praying all day if you can go out, bring benefit to yourself and to people, and still get a reward for it?

Allah is merciful, so please accept His mercy and make something of yourself to help the Ummah of Muhammad alone. Don’t intend it for yourself. Spend all of your free time in worship.

But do not stand in front of Allah and tell Him that you did not try to contribute to helping your fellow Muslims through your limbs, mind, property, wealth, life, or heart.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post How Should a Muslim With Otherworldly Goals Engage in Worldly Matters? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I am 20 years, and I met this man who is ready to marry me. I knew my parents wouldn’t let me marry before I completed school, so he agreed to wait a year until graduation.

We rarely talk, but my sexual urges are high, and I try hard to resist. I also fear that this man will get tired of waiting because we don’t talk often. I don’t want to lose him when finding a man willing to commit in this modern world is so hard.

Answer

I empathize with the frustration that you are feeling, sister.

It is not clear from your question if you are already engaged or whether this is something you hope your parents will agree to. Please tell your parents and formalize your marriage plan if you have not already.

Either way, there is no simple trick that I can give you to resist your urges before you marry this man. You must do your best to keep your conversations formal and minimal.

Draw out every bit of your patience and tell yourself that you will be with him in one year. It will pass by quickly, I promise. Now is the time to show your true strength. Allah promises good to those who restrain themselves for His sake.

In the meantime, prepare for marriage instead of thinking about his bed. This is infinitely more important, and too many couples do not arm themselves with the knowledge of rights and obligations before they get married. Do you know what he must provide for you? Do you know what you must give him?

Do you know what you can say when you have your first fight? Do you know how to establish good marital habits from the beginning so the marriage stays afloat? Do you know what is permissible in the bedroom?

Please take a course at Seekers with him so that you are both clear on what behavior a Muslim couple expects. May Allah bless your union and give you the best in this world and the next.

Intimate Conversations on the Phone Before Marriage
Controlling Sexual Desires When Marriage Is “Put on Hold”
Love, Marriage and Relationships in Islam: All Your Questions Answered

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post How To Control Sexual Urges and Take a Modest Path to Marriage? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Is it permissible to give zakat and sadaqat al-fitr to the mosque, which can be used for the mosque rent and bills etc.?

Answer

No, zakat and sadaqat al-fitr cannot be used to pay for the expenses of a mosque. The purpose of both is to aid poor people and other individuals who are needy. [Quduri, Matn al-Quduri]

Other charity can be given to help a mosque. Doing so would be greatly rewarded, especially now, when many mosques are struggling without a congregation who gives regular donations. Allah says, “Whatever you spend [Allah] will replace it.” [Quran, 34:39]

Faraz Rabbani adds, “In these times of financial crisis, it is a communal obligation for us to support the essential religious institutions in our communities — especially mosques, educational institutions, and critical social services.”

May Allah bless you with the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.

The post Is It Permissible To Give Zakat and Sadaqat al-Fitr to the Mosque? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

During the early years of our marriage, there were a couple of days when my husband and I had intercourse on the days of Ramadan during the day. We were unaware whether our fasts were broken during foreplay, but we used to complete with intercourse. We were so naive and gullible at the time.

There were other Ramadan’s where we fell into temptation and had intercourse. At one point, we felt guilty and paid a kaffara to feed 60 poor people.

Both my husband and I feel so guilty for what we did and want to repent fully. The question is, how can we repent and pay or do the 60 days fast kaffara? What will be the best way insha’Allah?

Also, for each Ramadan that we ruined with intercourse, will we have to do one kaffara each and make up the qadha fasts?

My husband thinks he won’t be able to do the 60 consecutive fasts and is asking whether it’s sufficient to follow the Maliki school in paying the kaffara for each fast broken.

Any guidance or help is greatly appreciated as both my husband and I truly want to repent and expiate for this insha’Allah.

Answer

According to the Hanafi school, the easiest solution is to perform one kaffara-60 days of fasting. This will take care of all of the incidents. If your husband is not able to, due to physical illness, then he can feed people. Otherwise, if he just feels like he will struggle to maintain the limits of the fast, then he should do it in the winter. The days are much shorter, thus making the fasts a lot easier. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al Falah]

You can, however, choose to follow the Maliki school for the kaffara. They consider feeding people to the best of the forms of kaffara due to the wide benefit that comes from it. [al-Mawsu’a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya]

Choose What Will Help You Stop

It seems like the best option for you would be the 60 fasts in winter. The purpose of the kaffara is to teach one a lesson, and if you can easily pay to feel that many people for every occasion, then it won’t have that effect. Fasting will drive the point home, insha Allah, and prevent it from happening. In any case, it’s in your hands.

Be sure to repent to Allah, express your human weakness, and to ask Allah to strengthen you to be able to worship into the best of your capacity.

In any case, Allah loves it when a servant repents and turns back to Him, and He loves those who repeatedly repent. [Quran, 2:222] May Allah make us of them. Amin.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.

The post What Is the Expiation for Sexual Intercourse During Ramadan? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I am friends with a girl, and we have never indulged in anything haram, and I like her in the purest of ways and see a future with her. She refrains from haram activities and is a very pure and pious person. We will move to London soon to pursue our education respectively.

She has been talking a lot about partying over there. I am worried that she is into that sort of thing and just hasn’t expressed that to me or that she’s so innocent and naive that that environment will have a bad effect on her and change her into a different person.

I am worried and stressed, and sad. I don’t want to lose the pious person that I know. How can I approach this situation? I really don’t want to see her go astray.

Answer

Worrying about her like this is very compassionate and kind of you. I commend your pure intention to marry her for her piety.

You should propose to her before you go to London. It is not right that you both move away without understanding each other. Anything could happen while you are in London; she might even meet someone else. This will upset you, so it’s better to know how she feels now and consolidate it if possible.

Talk to your parents, pray istikhara about proposing to her or not, and follow that. If it comes out positive, she might agree, and you can get engaged formally before you leave, perhaps even with a nikah.

Once you have a nikah, you can spend your free time with her in London, and find other religious couples and stay away from the party scene. If getting a nikah is impossible, even an engagement will help her avoid the party scene because you will have a big influence as her future husband.

If it comes out negative, you should not propose, but just give her the best advice that you can about protecting herself and keeping the company of religious girls.

Pray for her always and ask Allah to guide both of you to what is best for you in this world and the next. May Allah give you tawfiq.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post What Is the Right Way To Approach Someone for Marriage? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I am a car salesman. I have cars to the value of R200000 in stock at the moment. Due to the current lockdown period, I cannot sell any of my stock. I only have R13000 in my bank account, and that is before I have to pay my expenses of R13000. My zakat date is 15 Ramadan 1441; what would be the way forward to pay my zakat?

Answer

I pray you are well.

Calculate how much zakat you owe on your stock and pay it when you have the money to do so. It is permissible to delay the payment of zakat for up to a year without it being sinful. [Mawsili, al-Ikhtiyar] Right now, you can take care of your immediate expenses.

Ask Allah for help and facilitation. It might seem difficult but pay it as soon as you can. “No wealth was ever diminished by charity.” (Muslim) Allah always replaces what you spend.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.

The post How Do I Calculate My Zakat on the Stock of Cars Stuck Due to Lockdown? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

In Surat al-Fatiha we make the most comprehensive supplication possible. The supplication for guidance, but we often neglect its meaning. The reality of supplication isn’t words that we say in devotion. It is the meaning of need that we express. And this supplication at the heart of Surat Al-Fatiha:

اهدنا الصراطَ المستقيم

“Guide us to the straight path”

is the most critical and urgent of our needs. 

We ask Him to guide us. To show us the way and for the way to be facilitated. Out of need we ask the One who fulfills all needs: Allah. That He guide us to the path that is straight – the path of the good of this life and the next. A path leading, like all paths, to an ultimate end: the eternal good of the next life. The eternal good pleasure, closeness, and love of Allah Most High.

Say It with Need

Say it with full meaning. Ask with neediness and with joy. Joy is one of the key components of supplication. Every supplication we engage in, we should engage in with utter need. Yet, with utter joy because the One we are asking is the One who taught us how to ask – Who told us: “Call upon Me, I will answer you.”

Every time you say: اهدنا الصراطَ المستقيم – “Guide us to the path that is straight,” say it with need. Intend that He guides you to His eternal good pleasure. To His closeness. To eternal reward. And intend facilitation in all the good that we seek of this life. 

May Allah Most High make us of those who are guided to the straight path.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

The post Supplication for Guidance: Quranic Supplications 1 appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

“Call upon Me, I will surely answer you!” Allah invites us in the Quran. [Ghafir, 60]

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Nothing is more precious to Allah than supplication (dua).” [Tirmidhi] He also said, peace and blessings be upon him, “Supplication is worship.” [Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and others] This is because supplication is expressing one’s neediness to Allah – the One free of all needs, the fulfiller of all needs. We express our neediness by asking Allah for all needs – material and spiritual, worldly and next-worldly. 

Call upon Allah with certainty and focus, and the doors of Divine Response will be wide open. Abu Bakr al-Shibli explained the above verse as, “Call upon Me without heedlessness, and I will answer you without delay.” [Abu Nu‘aym, Hilyat al-Awliya’]

Call upon Allah with Certainty

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Call upon Allah with complete certainty in His Answer.” [Tirmidhi, rigorously authentic] Allah’s Answer is a guarantee – when and how He wills. The ultimate answer is manifest as eternal reward in the Hereafter.

Thus, attach all hope in Allah – and call upon Allah with gratitude, contentment, and joy. Imam Halimi said that the believer should attach their hope fully upon Allah Most High. Then, we should ask Allah for all we need – small or big – because all things are in Allah’s Hands, and there is no one who fulfills needs besides Him. [Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab al-Iman]

This is a collection of key Quranic supplications. They express these meanings of neediness, certitude, contentment, gratitude, and the deep joy of the believer. Call, and behold Allah’s answer.

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation. 

Faraz Rabbani

The post Call and Behold the Answer: Quranic Supplications Series appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I’ve been suffering from waswasa recently, and I’ve been starting Salah, reciting something wrongly, breaking the Salah from where I’m standing, and immediately starting again.

What is the punishment for doing this, and how may I make amends? Are all salahs prayed in this manner valid? Do I need to repeat any prayers?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

You are not in sin for breaking your prayer to achieve its valid performance. However, one should refrain from breaking their prayer due to misgivings such as this.

Mistakes in Recitation

Although there was much discussion over this point amongst the scholars, the later scholars have determined that no accidental mistakes in recitation invalidate the prayer, even if the meanings were changed due to the mistake. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

This ruling is a dispensation born from the widespread inability to recite the Quran proficiently. [Ibid.]

Broken Prayers

If one breaks their obligatory prayer and then repeats it to its valid conclusion, the prayer is valid, and there is nothing else upon them. [Ibid.]

Misgivings (Waswasa)

Please have a look at this link for a reader on misgivings.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post What If I Break My Prayer Simply Due to a Recitation Mistake? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I have a question regarding a narration from Abu Huraira; How to understand this hadith?

What is meant by voluntary prayers here? Sunna prayers or Nafil prayers, or both?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

The Narration in Question

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Indeed, the first thing the servant will be taken to account for on the Day of the Judgment of his deeds is the prayer. If it is sound, he has succeeded and attained salvation. If it is corrupt, they have failed and lost. If there are deficiencies in their obligatory actions, the Lord Most High says, ‘See if My servant has any voluntary actions with which the obligatory prayers can be completed.’ This is done such with all their deeds.” [Tirmidhi]

What Is Meant by Voluntary Actions

Voluntary action in the above narration refers to all prayers aside from the five obligatory prayers.

The word in the above narration, “Tatawwu‘” is defined as that which a person undertakes of their own free will without that thing being an obligation upon them. [Zabidi, Taj al-‘Arus]

This definition is inclusive of any action that is not obligatory (fard). The necessary acts (wajib) would also fall under this definition. Thus, any action outside these categories would apply in this Prophetic narration.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post What Does “Voluntary Action” Mean in Abu Huraira’s Narration? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Why does the hadith say that there are three whose duas are “never rejected”? Isn’t the phrase “never rejected” contradictory to the reality that Allah always responds to duas with conditions? It has an impact on my Iman. Please assist.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

In a general sense, Allah (Most High) has made it such that He responds to all supplications with the following conditions:

• That the supplication be to Him, not to any of the creation;
• That they be coupled with a present heart; and
• That the person consumes permissible food/drink.

Other conditions may branch off of these, but these are the core conditions.

Never Rejected

With that said, the narrations in which Allah (Most High) says that supplications are never rejected may be understood in the context of Arabic usage.

The Arabic language is very vast. One must allow their understanding to more than merely the outward wording of the Arabic, and especially not to translation.

Although the narration is translated as “never,” the Arabic particle “Lan (لن)” does not yield a meaning of complete negation, as we would understand the word “never” in English.

Examples from the Quran:

For this reason, there are verses of the Quran where the same word is used for something that is indeed possible but not at the moment or for other such reasons.

وَلَمَّا جَآءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَـٰتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِىٓ أَنظُرْ إِلَيْكَ ۚ قَالَ لَن تَرَىٰنِى وَلَـٰكِنِ ٱنظُرْ إِلَى ٱلْجَبَلِ فَإِنِ ٱسْتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُۥ فَسَوْفَ تَرَىٰنِى ۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُۥ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُۥ دَكًّۭا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقًۭا ۚ فَلَمَّآ أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ. [الأعراف: 143]

Allah Most High says, “When Moses came at the appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he asked, ‘My Lord! Reveal Yourself to me so I may see You.’ Allah answered, ‘You cannot see Me! But look at the mountain. If it remains firm in its place, only then will you see Me’ (…).” [Quran, 7:143]

You can see above that the same particle (Lan – لن) is used, but the translator correctly did not translate it as “never.” This is because, according to the Sunni mainstream, the Believers will see Allah Most High in Paradise.

Summary

In light of the above, Allah’s acceptance of one’s prayers is not the issue. The issue is the heart of the only supplicating. It is important to have a good opinion of Allah Most High whilst trying to uphold the following etiquettes.

Related:

• Adab of Dua Series: Introduction and Etiquette [Video]
• How Can I Ensure That My Supplication Is Accepted?
• Reader on Unfulfilled Supplications
• Beseeching The Divine: Supplications From The Quran [Course]
• Supplication is the Essence of Worship: The Reality and Proper Manners of Asking Allah (Dua) [Course]
• Connecting to Allah through Supplication: Learn Deeper Meanings of Dua [Course]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post How Can We Understand the Narration That Says, “Three Whose Supplications Are Never Rejected”? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I’m confused about my faith. I genuinely want to pray with awe and fear of Allah.

I don’t sincerely fear Allah because I can’t discipline myself to conduct salah on time and regularly. I want to know Allah for Who He is and worship Him for Who He is, not for what I want to think of Him, which I believe is the same as being reckless and following my desires.

I feel like I’ve lost all of my Iman, and I really want to reconnect with Him. I want to live my life in total submission to Him, but I can’t seem to find my path. Please advise me on the role of salah in my life as a Muslim and why missing it is punishable.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Prelude

The problem you find yourself in is common; believe it or not, it is a good sign. It is a sign that Allah Most High loves you and that Allah Most High is with you.

Love of Allah (Most High)

Being concerned with one’s relationship and standing with Allah Most High is of the most profound signs that Allah Most High cares for you. In this vein, the following verse has been understood by the scholars and commentators of the Quran:

Allah Most High says, “When My servants ask you (O Prophet) about Me: I am truly near. I respond to one’s prayer when they call upon Me. So let them respond (with obedience) to Me and believe in Me, perhaps they will be guided (to the Right Way).” [Quran, 2:186]

Understanding This Verse

Note that Allah Most High says that when “My” servants ask about Me. This term “My” servants is the first indication of Allah’s care for you.

Secondly, in most of the other verses of the Quran that have this statement, “they ask you (…)”, Allah Most High always responds by saying, “Tell them (this answer).” However, here Allah Most High doesn’t say, “tell them I am near.” He says, “I am truly near.” Only one who was distant would need someone to convey this message. Allah is near.

The third thing we can take from this verse is that Allah Most High is near to those who ask about Him, i.e., they are concerned about Him. And you, in this question submission, have asked regarding Allah Most High, so I say, “He is truly near to you in His care and concern for you.”

Had Allah Most High not cared for you, He would not have made it a concern in your heart to ask regarding Him.

Allah Is With Who?

A sign that Allah Most High is with you in His Divine care and nurturing of you is the broken state you seem to be in from your question.

The Prophet Musa (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “‘O My Lord, where do I seek You?’ Allah Most High replied, ‘Seek Me with those whose hearts are broken for My sake.’” [Ahmad, Kitab al-Zuhd]

Ibn ‘Ata’illah al-Iskandari (Allah have mercy on him), in his al-Hikam, says, “A sin that yields humility and brokenness is better than a good deed that yields exaltedness and arrogance.”

Moving Forward

Allah Most High says, “Say, (O Prophet, that Allah says,) ‘O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Turn to your Lord (in repentance), and (fully) submit to Him before the punishment reaches you, (for) then you will not be helped. Follow (the Quran,) the best of what has been revealed to you from your Lord, before the punishment takes you by surprise while you are unaware, (…)’” [Quran, 39:53-5]

From these blessed verses, we see the following:

Never Losing Hope:

Allah Most High, out of His sheer grace and bounty, has prohibited us from losing hope in His mercy. We must remain positive regarding our relationship with Allah Most High and always hope in His mercy.

Turning Back to Allah:

After that, we must always turn back to Allah (Most High) in all our states. If we are struggling, we turn to Allah (Most High) sincerely, seeking His assistance. If we are doing well, we turn sincerely to Allah (Most High), seeking His acceptance.

Love: The Greatest Quality

From your question, you put a lot of emphasis on worshipping Allah Most High out of fear. Although fear is one of the praiseworthy qualities and from the stations of certainty in Allah Most High, it is not the highest quality for one to base their worship on.

In fact, those who worship Allah Most High out of love are the best of the worshippers.

Sayyiduna ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (Allah be pleased with him) mentioned that worshippers of Allah Most High are of three categories:

• The worship of the slaves: These are those who worship Allah Most High out of fear of punishment
• The worship of the merchants: These are those who worship Allah Most High for the sake of reward.
• The worship of the lovers (‘Aashiqin): These are those whose worship is entirely selfless, not due to fear of punishment, not motivated by reward, but solely due to one’s gnosis of the greatness, majesty, and beauty of Allah Most High. [Ghazali, Ihya ‘Ulum al-Din]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post How Do I Find My Way Back to Allah (Most High) and Discipline Myself? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Is looking at the face of a non-mahram (marriageable kin) impermissible? If so, how do I lower my gaze while speaking with them?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

A woman’s face is not impermissible to look at on condition that one does not have desire when looking or has a reasonable fear that the looking will stir up desire. [Nahlawi, al-Durar al-Mubaha]

What Desire Isn’t?

Desire isn’t a noticing of beauty. Desire is a feeling accompanied by a stirring up of sexual inclination towards that person.

If one’s gaze does not result in the above, it is within the limits of the Sacred law to look, especially if there is a religious, cultural, or otherwise need to do so.

Caution

However, even though such looking is lawful, there is a general encouragement, due to the natural human inclination toward the opposite gender, to control one’s eyes.

This entails, looking away if there is a reasonable fear of desire, not looking for extended periods of time, even if there is no desire, and watching one’s heart and intentions while doing so.

Related:
Can I Speak to a Non-Mahram for Unnecessary Reasons?
Non-Mahram (Marriageable Kin) Archives

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post Is Looking at the Face of a Non-mahram (Marriageable Kin) Impermissible? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I’m a university student doing a module called “A Cultural Introduction To The Indus Valley.” The class just hosted a dancing session in which students were required to participate. I’m simply disgusted because they forced us to conduct a Hindu religious dance without informing us. I was not at all at ease and despised every minute of it, yet I felt obligated to do it.

I left midway through the dance and cried in the toilet, feeling like I did major shirk. In this matter, I would need urgent consultation.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

It is strictly prohibited to participate in any of the religious activities of any religion aside from Islam. This prohibition applies regardless of one’s intentions.

Is It Associating Partners (Shirk)?

Whether or not one’s participation in the religious activities of other religions takes them out of the fold of Islam or not, depends on certain factors:

1). Not Inherently Religious Activities

Many activities are themselves only considered worship via an intention. These activities do not take one out of the fold of Islam and are not considered associating partners unless the one performing them intends worship of other than Allah Most High.

For example, placing food before someone/something, bathing in a river, dancing, etc…

Participating with other religions in doing these things as a religious ritual is a major sin. If one intends by placing down food that they are offering the food to a statue of Buddha, or by bathing in the Ganges they intend what the Hindus intend, or by doing ritual Hindu dances as an act of worship to Vishnu or Shiva, etc.. – this is then associating partners (shirk).

These acts will take one out of the fold of Islam.

2). Inherently Religious Activities

Other acts are inherently considered acts of worship—for example, prostration and bowing.

These acts are strictly prohibited to participate with other religions in, as well, regardless of one’s intention.

If one intends to worship what the others are worshipping, it is associating partners and takes one out of the fold of Islam.

If one does not intend worship, it is still associating partners unless they were fully unaware of what they were doing or what it meant.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post Have I Committed Major Shirk by Participating in a Hindu Ritual Dance? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Is raising my right hand and making an oath/pledge during school assemblies permissible?

The right hand is held parallel to the ground and at shoulder level. And we make the pledge/oath while keeping our right hands raised.

(To view the hand’s position, search for Indian or Bangladeshi school assembly commitment).

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

It is not strictly prohibited (haram) to partake in the pledge of allegiance during school assemblies.

As a citizen of a country or a student of a school, there is already a type of allegiance that is assumed. There is nothing wrong with this allegiance, as it is akin to a mutual covenant of rights and responsibilities.

Such a covenant aligns with the Islamic tradition as long as one does not obey anything that circumvents the teaching of Islam.

See this link for more details.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post Is It Haram to Raise One’s Hand during the Pledge of Allegiance Assembly at School? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

What happens if someone didn’t know about Islam all their life, then someone told them about it, but they died straight after it was revealed without being able to do anything?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Brief Answer

Except for those who are explicitly declared in the Quran and the Prophetic narrations as being from the people of Paradise or Hellfire, we cannot make any definitive statements regarding anyone.

In reality, only Allah (Most High) knows the exact state upon which anyone passes. As for us, we act based on what is apparent to us: whether they were Muslim or not.

If someone appears to have passed away as a Muslim, we apply the rulings of Islam to that person: we bury them in the Muslim cemetery; we wash, shroud, and pray over them; their inheritance will be given out according to the Islamic injunctions; and we will pray for their forgiveness. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

As for those who appear to have passed away in a state of unbelief, we do not apply the aforementioned rulings of Islam to them.

In either case, we leave their affair to Allah Most High.

Detailed Answer

The scholars have determined that a person is only morally responsible for accepting the religion of Islam if they meet the following conditions:

1. They are sane;
2. They are mature (i.e., have reached puberty);
3. They have the ability to hear and/or see;
4. The message of Islam has reached them clearly and without distortion. [Laqqani, Jawharat al-Tawhid]

Anyone who does meet these conditions is not considered to have disbelieved in Islam. According to most scholars, such a person is saved on the Day of Judgment and will be among the people of Paradise. [Ibid.]

True Disbelief (Kufr)

If a person fulfills these conditions but yet doesn’t embrace Islam, he or she is a disbeliever.

Again, we can only judge another person’s belief or lack thereof based on what they show to the outside world and what they say about themselves. Apart from that, we leave the reality of their affairs to Allah Most High.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post What If Someone Dies Shortly after Learning about Islam for the First Time? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

What is the ruling of holding Eid prayer multiple times, due to consideration of the global and local sighting positions, in the case that they don’t fall on the same day?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Both the local and global sighting, as well as the calculation method, have been supported by various scholars with their own proofs.

That said, the general advice is to follow whatever one’s community does. If one’s community accommodates both/all of the above opinions.

Multiple Eid Prayers

Holding multiple Eid sermons/prayers in the same mosque/community is permissible. The condition is that the same person cannot lead both prayers.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post Is It Permissible to Hold Multiple Eid Prayers in the Same Mosque/Community? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I would love to learn traditionally with Mashayikh (scholars), sitting on the ground, learning fiqh, tarbiya, ‘aqida, etc.; however, I am now 28 years old, living in Germany, marry soon, and have to work to provide for myself.

I punctually studied in Islamic countries, but it was only for a limited time. I need to learn how to continue my traditional Islam studies. I am not convinced of studying online or with teachers here in Germany. And more is required to reach the high goals I preserved for myself and my community. What can you recommend?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

Aside from the methods of study that you excluded as an option in your question – namely, studying overseas, online, or with local scholars – there is no other way to study.

The only thing left is self-study which is highly discouraged and potentially more detrimental than it may seem beneficial.

Rethinking

In reality, learning from the scholars in one’s area has always been seen as a priority before traveling to seek knowledge.

Studying with Local Scholars

If traditional scholars in your area have a chain of transmission back to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace), this should be your starting point for Islamic studies.

Online Studies

It may be a good option to take online classes and couple that with active mentorship. Perhaps this could be in addition to occasional visits to study with teachers overseas.

Consider asking through SeekersGuidance. Both private classes and in-person study may be made available for you.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.

He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.

In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

The post What Is the Best Way to Study Traditional Islam without Traveling Overseas? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I’m a 13-year-old girl whose parents disapprove of Islam, so I want to revert to Islam privately. Can I get some guidance on how to revert and get taught basic beliefs of the religion?

I don’t have any Muslim friends and can’t go to a mosque, and while I wouldn’t be able to wear a hijab or cover up parts of my legs and arms (school uniform) or fast (parents), I would be able to enter the religion and pray and put it into practice.

Is there a place or website where I could learn the basics and how to pray, what to say at different times, when to do different things, etc.?

Answer

Thank you for your question. Despite all the obstacles around you and your young age, I am absolutely awe-stricken at your will, faith, purity, and determination to follow the truth. May Allah increase you in all that you do and make you one of the best of our umma!

How to Convert

A Muslim is anyone who believes in One God (Allah); believes in the Prophet Muhammad as the Messenger of God; and accepts the guidance that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came with as true.

To enter Islam, one says the testification of faith, which is to say:

“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).”

That is all it takes.

Practice

For now, don’t worry about being unable to cover, fast, or attend a mosque. You have already taken the greatest step, and you can build your knowledge and practice slowly with the help of Allah. A path for practicing the religion will open; take every inch that you get. Not a single one of your good deeds will be lost on Allah.

Resources

You can learn all that you need at our website, seekersguidance.org. Start with taking the following classes for converts and the basic knowledge of worship and reading these articles.

• Introduction to Islam: What It Means to Be Muslim
• Which Islamic Science Should I Study First?
• New to Islam Reader: A Trusted Collection of Resources for Converts
• Getting Started with Your Belief and Practice

Dua

Supplication is one thing you can start now, and no one can prevent you. Simply put your hands up, bless the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and ask Allah for anything and everything that you want and need: freedom, knowledge, good company, guidance, health, prosperity, well-being, correct practice, piety, faith, love, trust in God, the conversion of your loved ones, and salvation from the Hellfire.

Tariq ibn al-Ashyam reported: Whenever a man embraced Islam, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) would teach him the prayer. Then, the Prophet instructed him to supplicate with these words, “O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, grant me wellness, and grant me provision.”

In another narration, the Prophet said, “Verily, these words summarize your worldly life and your Hereafter.” [Muslim]

Please see these links on etiquettes of supplication: Adab of Dua Series: Introduction and Etiquette.

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post Can You Advise Me on How to Convert as a 13-Year-Old? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

The post Can the Word “Creation” Be Used for Other Than Allah? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

If we are a young couple and finance is an issue for now, do we need to provide each other with rings, or what is the ruling on that?

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah bless your union, fill it with goodness, and make it an example of following the sunna of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).

Rings

Exchanging rings is a manifestation of culture and is not required in Islam, nor even sunna. It is noteworthy that a man may only wear a silver ring, according to most schools of thought, and those are pretty affordable.

Please see these links for more details:
Are Wedding Rings Impermissible?
Is It Permissible To Wear an Engagement Ring and Wedding Ring if I Don’t Intend To Imitate Non-Muslims?

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post Are Wedding Rings Necessary in Marriage? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I am a 21-year-old man who wants to get married to a 20-year-old girl. We are both currently studying and have no income at the moment.

Is it permissible to get married and live separately with our parents until we start to earn? Then in sha’ Allah, she will move in with my parents and me when I can at least pay for some things in the house and not just live with them for free.

Both our parents have known about us for the past three years, and her parents are happy with the above idea. I still need to speak to my parents, but I know they want me to be financially stable before considering marriage.

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for wanting to do what is halal and right, and may He pave the path of ease for you.

Nikah

I admire that you want to make the relationship halal, but I dislike the idea of having a nikah and then having years ahead of not living together. Please remember that your wife can become pregnant the moment you consummate the marriage, and it is not right for you to live separately from her without your support and care if that happens. Even if she doesn’t get pregnant, you cannot fulfill her rights while in a different home, nor can she fulfill yours.

Nikah without Consummation

In many Eastern cultures, a young couple does get a nikah, which they term an engagement, but both families understand that this is not so they can consummate the marriage, but rather visit each other freely and talk on the phone. They usually remain this way until the wedding, which isn’t customarily more than a year’s wait.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “There is nothing like marriage for two who love one another.” [Ibn Majah]

Please see these links as well:
Having to Wait for Nikah
I Want to Marry Someone, but He Wants Me to Wait Three Years

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post Can I Have a Nikah and Move In with My Wife Later? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

There is currently no cure for stretch marks. I have stretch marks due to being overweight on my child. Can I pray that Allah removes them automatically without any human intervention/treatment because, technically, none exists? In a perfect world, I want my entire body to be stretch mark free, and I feel like that’s asking too much.

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for your sincerity and for wanting to please your husband with your beauty.

Miracles

It is permissible to ask for miracles, as there has been no prohibition in doing so. You can make dua for anything you desire, as Allah’s power is limitless. Allah has told us in the Quran, “Have you not seen that Allah created the heavens and the earth for a reason? If He wills, He can eliminate you and produce a new creation. And that is not difficult for Allah (at all).” [Quran, 14:19-20]

Supplication

There are etiquettes to follow in supplication that I have linked below. However, I urge you to focus on inner beautification and ask for something to benefit you in this world and the next life. A woman’s grace and character is what truly brings out her beauty. A woman can take many steps to increase her beauty. Maintain a healthy, organic diet with lots of water and exercise. Recite and memorize Quran, pray tahajjud so a light shines from your face, and carry yourself with grace and have a refined character. None of these are easy, but their fruits cannot be equaled, even by one with no stretch marks.

Please see these links as well:
Is It from Lack of Faith to Leave Making Du’a for Things Almost Impossible?
The Reality and Etiquettes of Supplication: A Reader
Cosmetic Surgery for Insecurities
Is Cosmetic Surgery Permitted in the Shafi’i School?

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post Can I Ask Allah to Miraculously Make My Stretch Marks Disappear? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Please let me know if a 45-degree bow at the waist to show respect to others during karate training is allowed in Islam. The purpose of undertaking such learning and training is for fitness and not for combat by any means. I also know that complete bowing to the ground, as in prostration, is prohibited or haram.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

Some jurists prohibit any level of bowing, and some say it is disliked (makruh). Therefore it is better to avoid and abstain from it given the resemblance and similarity to bowing, be it 45 degrees, more or less. [Fatawa al-Hindiyya; Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; al-Mawsu‘a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya]

Alternative Way of Respect

If one can find a Muslim Martial Arts instructor or Academy, one should join one. Otherwise, if one cannot find one that can accommodate, one should speak to the instructor or academy explaining the religious stance with respect. Alternatively, instead of bowing, one may slightly lean or simply nod, which would be permissible. In the future, one can continuously respect them with gifts, good comments, etc.

In this way, the instructors and academy will find richer ways and views that may differ from theirs and come to appreciate the diversity moving forward.

Related:
45-degree bow in Japanese
Is Bowing to Someone Out of Respect Disbelief?
Is it permissible to engage in martial arts that have remnants of Buddhist culture/religion?

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

The post Can One Bow During Any Martial Arts Training? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

The post Is it Obligatory to Consummate One’s Marriage? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

Shall I repeat my prayer if I have Doubts about Urine Dribbling?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate 

I commend you for having concern about your prayer.

If you are in the habit of experiencing doubts and you are not certain about the urine drops, then you may sprinkle water around your private parts or underpants and attribute the wetness to the water. Consider the following hadith, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, Jibra’il (peace be upon him) came to me, and said, ‘O Muhammad! “When you perform wudu, sprinkle water over the private part’’ [Tirmidhi]

Don’t make a habit of checking for urine drops each time, and only act upon certainty or near certainty. Try to abandon doubts and act contrary to it.

In your above case, you did not have to repeat the prayer, as you were certain you had done wudu, a number of times.

How to Deal with Doubts

These types of misgivings are all too common concerning matters of purification. Shaytan plays on people’s sincerity in their religion and incites them toward false caution.

Knowledge

The long-term cure for these constant doubts is to seek a deeper understanding of Islamic Knowledge. With knowledge, Shaytan cannot deceive you with his whispers and plots. I would advise you to find authentic scholars in your area and study a basic text in Islamic Jurisprudence with them.

I would like you to go through the Reader below, it will help you in every way.

A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings) (seekersguidance.org)

Please note that SeekersGuidance.org has classes available in Islamic Jurisprudence and many other subjects.

May Allah Most High ease all of your affairs and protect you and us from the plots of Shaytan.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.

He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.

He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.

He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.

The post Shall I Repeat My Prayer If I Have Doubts about Urine Dribbling? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

How do I overcome doubts about Islam after reading upon negative views?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate 

I commend you trying to fight off the satanic whisperings and reach out for support and guidance.

Miracles

Allah (Most High) created the entire universe with certain norms and ways. As He is the creator of it, through His wisdom he made certain humans role models and guides and made them prophets. These prophets brought about extraordinary acts to prove to people of their prophethood and truthfulness. 

Tenets of Faith

Allah (Most High) has told us to believe in Himself and five other articles. This is system He has commanded for us to believe and uphold through His wisdom and mercy. He is the creator of every atom and universe. He knows the best support systems for guiding us in this life and beyond.

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Satan will come to one of you and he will say, ‘Who created this and that?’ until he says to him, ‘Who created your Lord?’ Let him seek refuge in Allah and stop such thoughts.” [Bukhari]

In another narration, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Let him say: I have faith in Allah.” 

I would like to advise you not to read, listen to or watch any videos about ex-Muslims. This will create doubts and baseless thoughts and ideas. 

Also, why not join the Islamic Studies Curriculum Course on SeekersGuidance. It provides a clear, systematic five-level program. It is taught by qualified scholars, and presents traditional Islamic knowledge in a deep, practical, inspiring manner-with an emphasis on living knowledge as guidance.

I would recommend you read the following articles:

A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings)

I Have Baseless Misgivings (Waswasa) About the Soundness of My Faith and My Marriage. (seekersguidance.org)

How Should I Deal with Waswasa Concerning My Faith? – SeekersGuidance

Does the Qur’an Mention OCD or Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings) Being Caused by Jinn? – SeekersGuidance

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.

He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.

He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.

He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.

The post How to Overcome Doubts about Islam after Reading upon Negative Views? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I know the meaning of what I am saying during prayer yet I feel tired after a few rakat and get less mindful in the prayer.

How do I get over the feelings of boredom and monotony during prayer?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

It is a good sign of your faith that you have concern about your prayer.

I would like to suggest a few important guidelines:

Try to eliminate the possible distracting factors, like any emotional stress or falling in sin before prayer, and to perform repentance if one has.

Learn the how to perform the entire prayer with its conditions, integrals, obligations, sunnahs and etiquettes once again. Ideally with someone who performs his prayer with complete devotion, like your Imam, any learned scholar or devoted person who will direct you.

Learn the meaning of the supplications, Quranic suras of the prayer. Concentrate on the meaning as you recite each supplication and word of the Quran, it will slowly develop an inner spirituality and will become apparent in you.

Perform your daily prayers in congregation, ideally in the masjid or wherever you can but in congregation. You will feel a sense of belonging and the loneliness will be eliminated. 

Keep in mind the numerous virtues of performing the prayer and the worldly and Next-life benefits, like the following Quranic verse, states that prayer stops a person from doing evil. 

Indeed, ‘genuine’ prayer should deter one’ from indecency and wickedness. 

[Quran, 29:45]

And this hadith shows one will be in the company of angels:

The Messenger of Allah said, “The angels supplicate in favor of one of you so long as he remains in the place where he has performed prayer in a state of wudhu.’ They (the angels) say: ‘O Allah! Forgive him, O Allah! Have mercy on him. [Bukhari]

I advise you to stay in the company of the righteous, remain attached to local reliable  scholars, taking guidance from them, always, and attending the daily prayers in congregation as much as you can, along with attending any local study circle in your area.

Watch the following video by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, on the ‘Nine Keys to Presence in Prayer’ and read the well written article and notes. I pray and hope it will help you to bring about change in your prayer, insha’ Allah.

SeekersNotes: Nine Keys to Presence of Heart in Prayer – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

I pray and hope this helps you, amin.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.

He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.

He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.

He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.

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Question

It is reported that Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her) was married to the Prophet’s (Allah bless him and give him peace) adopted son, Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him). Zaid eventually divorced her, with one issue being how she spoke to him. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) then married her.

Another example is when ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) and the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) had an argument, and her father, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), visited them. When Abu Bakr heard ‘Aisha, he went to hit her, only to be stopped by the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).

How did the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) deal with Zainab’s (may Allah be pleased with her) and his other wives’ sharp tongues? I wish to learn and apply his method of dealing with his wives.

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for your intention, but I urge you to speak carefully about the wives of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) in calling their tongues sharp.

Mothers of the Believers

The mothers of the believers were the most virtuous women on the planet, and we must ask about them carefully. They were blessed, wise, pious, exalted in rank, patient, and virtuous, and no one could marry them after the passing of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). They were our role models, and girls must be taught to emulate them.

Allah Most High says in the Quran, “The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers (…).” [Quran, 33:6]

And Allah Most High said, “O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women: if you are mindful (of Allah) (…).” [Quran 33:32]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Sufficient for you among the women of mankind are Maryam bint ‘Imran, Khadija bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad and Aasiya, the wife of Fir‘awn.” [Tirmidhi]

Patience

The behavior and character of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was the Quran itself, as his wife ‘Aisha reported. He had nothing but patience, silence, and calmness for his wives. In the case of the following hadith, ‘Aisha responded to  Zaynab while the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) stayed silent.

Narrated ‘Urwa from ‘Aisha:

“The wives of Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) were in two groups. One group consisted of ‘Aisha, Hafsa, Safiyya, and Sawda; and the other group consisted of Umm Salama and the other wives of Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace).

The Muslims knew that Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) loved ‘Aisha, so if any of them had a gift and wished to give to Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace), he would delay it, until Allah’s Messenger, (Allah bless him and give him peace), had come to ‘Aisha’s home and then he would send his gift to Allah’s Messenger, (Allah bless him and give him peace), in her home.

The group of Umm Salama discussed the matter together and decided that Umm Salama should request Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) to tell the people to send their gifts to him in whatever wife’s house he was. Umm Salama told Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) of what they had said, but he did not reply.

Then they (those wives) asked Umm Salama about it. She said, ‘He did not say anything to me.’ They asked her to talk to him again. She talked to him again when she met him on her day, but he gave no reply. When they asked her, she replied that he had given no reply. They said to her, ‘Talk to him till he gives you a reply.’

When it was her turn, she talked to him again. He then said to her, ‘Do not hurt me regarding ‘Aisha, as the Divine Inspirations do not come to me on any of the beds except that of ‘Aisha.’ On that, Umm Salama said, ‘I repent to Allah for hurting you.’

Then the group of Umm Salama called Fatima, the daughter of Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace), and sent her to Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) to say to him, ‘Your wives request to treat them and the daughter of Abu Bakr on equal terms.’ Then Fatima conveyed the message to him. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, ‘O my daughter! Don’t you love whom I love?’ She replied in the affirmative and returned and told them of the situation.

They requested her to go to him again, but she refused. They then sent Zainab bint Jahsh who went to him and used harsh words saying, ‘Your wives request you to treat them and the daughter of Ibn Abu Quhafa on equal terms.’ On that, she raised her voice and abused ’Aisha to her face so much so that Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) looked at ’Aisha to see whether she would retort.

‘Aisha started replying to Zainab until she silenced her. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), then looked at ‘Aisha and said, ‘She is really the daughter of Abu Bakr.’” [Bukhari]

Accusations

During the most difficult moment in his marriage, when his wife ‘Aisha was accused of adultery, this was his reaction when he went to see her, according to her narration:

“He recited the Shahada and then said, ‘O ‘Aisha! I have been informed such-and-such about you; if you are innocent, then Allah will soon reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him to forgive you, for when a person confesses his sin and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance.’

When Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) finished his speech, my tears ceased completely, and there remained not even a single drop of it. I requested my father to reply to Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) on my behalf. My father said, ‘By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace).’ I said to my mother, ‘Talk to Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) on my behalf.’ She said, ‘By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah’s Apostle.’

I was a young girl and did not know much about the Quran. I said. ‘I know, by Allah, that you have listened to what people are saying, and that has been planted in your minds, and you have taken it as a truth. Now, if I told you that I am innocent and Allah knows that I am innocent, you would not believe me, and if I confessed to you falsely that I am guilty, and Allah knows that I am innocent, you would believe me. By Allah, I don’t compare my situation with you except to the situation of Joseph’s father, who said—So (for me) patience is most fitting against that which you assert, and it is Allah (Alone) whose help can be sought.’

Then I turned to the other side of my bed, hoping Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah, I never thought that Allah would reveal Divine Inspiration in my case, as I considered myself too inferior to be talked of in the Holy Quran. I had hoped that Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) might have a dream in which Allah would prove my innocence.

By Allah, Allah’s Apostle had not got up and nobody had left the house before the Divine Inspiration came to Allah’s Apostle. So, there overtook him the same state which used to overtake him (when he used to have on being inspired divinely). He was sweating so much so that the drops of the sweat were dropping like pearls though it was a (cold) wintry day.

When that state of Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) was over, he was smiling and the first word he said, ‘‘Aisha! Thank Allah, for Allah has declared your innocence.’ My mother told me to go to Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace). I replied, ‘By Allah, I will not go to him and will not thank but Allah.’ So Allah revealed: ‘Verily! They who spread the slander are a gang among you (…).’ [Quran, 24:11]

When Allah gave the declaration of my Innocence, Abu Bakr, who used to provide for Mistah bin Uthatha for he was his relative, said, ‘By Allah, I will never provide Mistah with anything because of what he said about ‘Aisha.’

But Allah later revealed: ‘And let not those who are good and wealthy among you swear not to help their kinsmen, those in need and those who left their homes in Allah’s Cause. Let them forgive and overlook. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? Verily! Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.’ [Quran, 24:22]

After that, Abu Bakr said, ‘Yes! By Allah! I like that Allah should forgive me,’ and resumed helping Mistah, whom he used to help before. Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) also asked Zainab bint Jahsh (i.e., the Prophet’s wife) about me, saying, ‘What do you know and what did you see?’ She replied, ‘O Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace)! I refrain from claiming to hear or to see what I have not heard or seen. By Allah, I know nothing except goodness about ‘Aisha.’ ‘A’isha further added, ‘Zainab was competing with me (in her beauty and the Prophet’s love), yet Allah protected her (from being malicious), for she had piety.’” [Bukhari]

Please see these links for more on his noble character:
Why Is the Prophet’s Character Described as Being Tremendous?
The Importance of Good Character
Four Valuable Practices of the Prophet ﷺ to Implement Today
A Glimpse into the Noble Character of God’s Messenger

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

The post How Did the Prophet Deal with the Boldness of His Wives? appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Question

I have a question that I need clarification on. In the Quran, Allah says that He has made seven heavens.

“It is He who created for you all that the earth contains; then He turned to the heavens and made them seven skies – and He is the knower of all things.” [Quran, 2:29]

But, in another hadith, it is stated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Indeed in Paradise, there are one hundred levels that Allah has prepared for those who fight in Allah’s way. The distance between each level is like the distance between Heaven (sama’) and Earth.”

So, are there seven levels or a hundred or more? I would greatly appreciate any help you could give me with this.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Seven Heavens

“He is the One Who created everything in the earth for you. Then He turned towards the heaven, forming it into seven heavens. And He has perfect knowledge of all things.” [Quran, 2:29]

The seven heavens do not refer to the seven levels of Paradise (Janna). They refer to the seven heavens above us and exist beyond the visible universe. The first heaven is what we can see above us, and the stars and galaxies with various aids; the other six heavens are somewhere far beyond that.

Ranks and Levels will Differ According to Actions

“They will each be assigned ranks according to their deeds. And your Lord is not unaware of what they do.” [Quran, 6:132]

“See how We have favored some over others (in this life), but the Hereafter is certainly far greater in rank and in favor.” [Quran, 17:21]

Ask Allah for the Highest level of Paradise

‘Ubada ibn al-Samit reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Paradise has one hundred levels, and between every two levels is a distance like that between the heavens and earth. Al-Firdaws is its highest level, from which four rivers of Paradise flow, and above is the Throne. When you ask from Allah, ask for Al-Firdaws.” [TirmidhI]

Recite and Ascend the Levels of Paradise

‘Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “It will be said to the companion of the Quran: Recite and ascend as you recited in the world! Verily, your rank is determined by the last verse you recite.” [Tirmidhi]

Emphasis to Pray in Congregation

Abu al-Ahwas (Allah be pleased with him) reported, ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (Allah be pleased with him) said, “Whoever would be pleased to meet Allah tomorrow as a Muslim, let him guard over these prayers when they are announced. Verily, Allah has instituted for His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, practices of guidance, for they are indeed practices of guidance. If you were to pray in your houses like one who keeps to his house, you would have abandoned the practice of your Prophet, and if you were to abandon the practice of your Prophet, you have been misguided. No man purifies himself in the best manner and then proceeds to one of these mosques, but that Allah records a good deed for every step he takes, raises him by a rank, and erases a sin. We have seen a time when no one leaves it but a hypocrite whose hypocrisy is known, whereas a weak man would come being carried by two men until he was placed within the rows.” [Muslim]

Ranks in Paradise Elevated by Hardship, if not Deeds

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reported the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Verily, a man may have a rank with Allah that he does not achieve by his good deeds. Thus, Allah continues to put him to trial with what he hates until he reaches the rank destined for him.” [Ibn Hibban]

The summary is that the ranks and levels are different for each good deed.  There are different levels of Janna for the various good deeds. So the hadith about those who fight in the way of Allah (Mujahidin) talks about the levels of Janna for the Mujahidin, the hadiths about the companion of the Quran talk about the levels of Janna for a companion of the Quran, and the hadiths about taking each step towards and walking to the Masjid talks about levels specific for such a good deed, etc.

Read the Links Below for Further Understanding

Related Answers:

• How Many Levels of Paradise and Hell are There?
• Ranks and Meaning of Paradise
• Is This a Hadith or a Statement, “There Are Seven Earths: In Every Earth Is a Prophet Like Your Prophet”?

Recommended Books:

• A Concise Description of Jannah & Jahannam: The Garden of Paradise and the Fire of Hell
• Driving the souls to the Abodes of Happiness

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

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Question

I was born Muslim, but in my teenage years, I was ignorant and didn’t practice or know my deen. I never prayed, and I even mocked the deen for laughs.

Alhamdulilah, Allah guided me to Islam, but because of my foolishness towards the deen, there is a possibility I unknowingly committed kufr back then. I want to know if I should have said the shahada in front of witnesses. I say the shahada often, usually alone.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate

I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah. Be deeply grateful for the gift of guidance.

Distance from religion, sin, and religious unawareness don’t constitute disbelief (kufr). Disbelief (kufr) is only an outright rejection of belief. [Bajuri, Tuhfat al-Murid ‘ala Jawharat al-Tawhid]

You don’t need to re-state the Testification of Faith (shahada).

Related:
Did I Leave Islam by Making a Dua Jokingly?
How Do I Deal with the Fear of Having Fallen into Kufr?
How Can I Overcome Thoughts of Kufr in My Everyday Life?
Does Allah Forgive All Sins, especially Kufr, even if Done Repeatedly?

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

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Question

Is it a concern if there is still soap on my private parts after washing them with water and soap? I scrubbed everywhere, but when I rinse with water, soap almost always remains.

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

Traces of soap left on your body after removing filth from it are not problematic regarding the soundness of your ritual purity and the validity of your prayer. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

This ruling is because we were commanded to purify our bodies before praying. Allah, Most High, says:  “Purify your garments.” [Quran, 74:4] and: “And if you are in a state of (full) impurity, then take a full bath. ” [Quran, 5:6]  [Marghinani, al-Hidaya]

By washing your private parts with water and soap, you can reasonably be confident that no traces of filth are left on this area of your body. And this is enough. We are not asked to reach full certainty about this, as there is genuine hardship in this.

Allah, Most High, says: “Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford.” [Quran, 2:286]   [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

You can be reasonably certain that no traces are left after the washing you have performed and that the traces of soap remaining are pure and free from any filth that was already gone at the beginning of your washing.

Thus, you have fulfilled the divine command to remove filth from your body, and your prayer will be valid. As for the remaining traces of soap, they are of no legal consequence.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalam
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

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