Answers

The Current Spirit of Hajj

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, SunniPath Academy Teacher

I recently returned from the Hajj - alhamdulillah and had the following concerns: 1. Please describe the stoning of the Jamarat at the time of the early Muslims.

Calling to Allah – why do some groups emphasize specific times to go out and specific methods?

Mufti Yusuf Mullan

Calling to Allah – why do some groups emphasize specific times to go out and specific methods? Are these from the sunna?

Fasting on the 3 Days after Eid al-Adha (the Days of Tashriq – 11, 12, and 13 Dhul Hijja)

Shaykh Sohail Hanif, SunniPath Academy Teacher

Not knowingly, I fasted on the 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul Hijja. I am in the middle of making up my fasts from previous years. Do I have to do them again since you shouldn’t be fasting on these days or would they be cou…

Excessive Movements Invalidate the Prayer

Shaykh Sohail Hanif, SunniPath Academy Teacher

I know that too much unnecessary movement invalidates the salah. What about communicating through signs or gestures, e.g.

Does faith increase or decrease? Are actions part of faith?

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, SunniPath Academy Teacher

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah, The position of the Ashari school is that faith (iman) increases and decreases by the increase or decrease in the strength of conviction that is the result of good deeds or sins.

Does informing one's wife that one has divorced her count as another pronouncement of divorce?

Shaykh Amjad Rasheed

A man divorced his wife, then he called her on the phone and she was harassing him, so he said, “I divorced you so leave me alone right now!” By that, he intended to remind her of what he had already done, not to divorce…

Concerning the question: "Does faith increase or decrease? Are actions part of faith?"

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

I have to disagree with your answer to the question "Does faith increase or decrease? Are actions part of faith?" because according to the Salaf, actions are a part of faith and not the fruits of faith…

What is the relation of scent to Islam?

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, SunniPath Academy Teacher

What is the relation of scent to Islam? What religious function do incense, perfume, and other forms of scent have?

If one does not follow the Sunna of the Prophet, does that mean they have left the fold of Islam?

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

If one does not follow the Sunna of the Prophet (peace be upon him), does that mean they have left the fold of Islam? Answer Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah, The word sunna means ‘way’, and has several usages.

Hanging Pictures of Family on the Wall

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Is it wrong to hang family pictures up on walls? I have heard that there is a hadith that says something about angels not entering houses where pictures of people are displayed.... Is there really such a hadith?

Can it be made a condition that a worker not engage in the same line of work for one year in th

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, SunniPath Academy Teacher

The clause is part of a contract to be given to a barber. The owner of the barber shop does not want the barber to be hired only to quit the shop after some time, take the shop's clients, and go to another shop, possibly…

Speaking During Lovemaking

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, SunniPath Academy Teacher

What is the ruling in the Hanafi school for speaking to one's spouse during lovemaking? What if one is obliged to say something to the other spouse in order to ascertain their comfort or to increase their pleasure during…

Does leaving prayer make one a disbeliever?

Shaykh Gibril F Haddad

Can you please elaborate on actions not being directly related to belief – given that many hadiths and words of the Companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and early Muslims indicate that someone w…

The Problem of Suffering

Shaykh Gibril F Haddad

I was walking home one day, when a man approached me. He knew I was a Muslim by looking at the hat I was wearing. Nevertheless, he kindly asked me a question that I could not answer.

Home Equity Loans: Permissible when the creditors have an ownership in the property proportiona

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari

My wife and I are intending to buy a house. We are looking into a Housing Association Loan which is an offer to keyworkers like us in Britain.

Distinction Between the Prophets of Allah

Shaykh Gibril F Haddad

In light of the Quranic ayahs such as 2:285: The messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers; they all believe in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers; We…

How old is Islam?

Shaykh Gibril F Haddad

The answer is threefold: 1. In the cosmic sense Islam began with creation as all things great and small surrender to the Creator; 2.

A Healthy Guide To Fasting

Sue Visser

A HEALTHY GUIDE TO FASTING Answer [from http://www.naturefresh.co.za/sent by a subscriber] First please note: Consult your health practitioner for confirmation that you are fit to fast, especially if you are taking presc…

Fragrant presence due to good deeds

Shaykh Gibril F Haddad

My sister lost her husband 2 months ago and now needs to know if her husband can see her and her son, and do the spirits really come down. If not, then why does she smell flowers all around her . Please explain.

Is the flying of kites allowed or haram?

Shaykh Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf Mangera

Is flying kites allowed or haram? I read that musailma kazzab used to fly a kite, with bells tied at its tail, at night and claimed that it was an angel coming to him. Is this true?

Is it permissible to wear eye-liner which contains lanolin oil?

Shaykh Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf Mangera

Is it permissible to wear eye-liner which contains lanolin oil? Answer Assalamu alaykum Lanolin that is derived from sheep's wool is pure and halal. Many texts on fiqh mention seven parts of an animal to be haram.

Salat al-Tawba & Salat al-Awwabin

Shaykh Amjad Rasheed

How does one pray salat al-tawba (prayer of repentance) and salat al-awwabin (prayer of the oft-returning to Allah)?

My parents have statues in their house. I tried to explain to them that this is haram...

Shaykh Muhammad Qaylish

My parents have statues in their house. I tried to explain to them that this is haram, but they did not accept my explanation and warned me that it is their house, while becoming very angry indeed.

Casting Aspersions on the Origins of the Hanafi School

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, SunniPath Academy Teacher

I have an important question concerning the attached writings from W. Hallaq's book Authority, Continuity and Change in Islamic Law. It concerns Imam Abu Hanifa's (RA)status as school founder and absolute mujtahid.

Entering stores that play music

Shaykh Amjad Rasheed

Is it permissible to enter a grocery store where people are listening to music? If this is not permissible, how will I live?

Prayer while traveling: (Qasr Salah) and its conditions

I am on government duty at a district of about 220 kms from my home. I usually go on duty for 13 days than come home. The government has not provided me a house, nor I have rented.

Divorce - Think before you speak: Understanding the seriousness of the ‘d’ word…

Mufti Yusuf Mullan

There have been occasions in the past where my wife has hit or slapped me during an argument. I have always told her not to do it, but she never apologizes and persists in this act.

Is it permissible to play chess, whether a little or a lot?

Shaykh Amjad Rasheed

Is it permissible to play chess, whether a little or a lot? Answer Playing chess whether a little or a lot is permissible, yet disliked, in our school. However, playing chess becomes unlawful if money is stipulated to th…

What actions/beliefs cause a Muslim to become a non-believer and be considered outside the fold

Shaykh Gibril F Haddad

What actions/beliefs cause a Muslim to become a non-believer and be considered outside the fold of Islam?

Asking permission before using other’s belongings

Shaykh Amjad Rasheed

I live in the university dorm with a Muslim brother. Do we have to ask one another for permission for eating food belonging to the other that is in the refrigerator? What are the boundaries of the permissibility?