Organ Transplant

by: Shaykh Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari
Question:
Is organ donation permissible?

Answer:
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
The issue of organ transplant has been a matter of great debate and dispute among the great contemporary scholars from around the globe. It has been discussed in various fiqh seminars, and many short and detailed works have be compiled on the subject.

Muharram

By Mufti Taqi Usmani

Muharram is the month with which the Muslims begin their lunar Hijrah Calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months about which the Holy Quran says, "The number of the months according to Allah is twelve (mentioned) in the Book of Allah on the day He created heavens and the earth. Among these (twelve months) there are four sanctified."

IT for Bank...

My question is about whether it is permissible to work for a financial institution's IT (Information Technology) department. I work as a team to support the systems that run financial applications similar to a bank although the company I work for is not a bank. Transactions do involve interest. I personally do not have to write/print any documents regarding the transaction and never have to deal with the customer. In other words, the transaction is completely invisible to me. My responsibility is to keep the systems up and running.

Answer
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

If your employment involves working with any systems which are directly related to anything impermissible then this employment will also be impermissible. For example, a persons employment is to maintain interest calculating programmes, then this will not be permissible (makrooh tahreemi).(Sabab Qareeb Ghayr Mutaharrik)

Zulhijjah: Eidul-Adha, Hajj, Sacrifice, etc.

Zulhijjah is the last month of the Islamic calendar. Literally, it means "hajj." Obviously, this name of the month indicates that the great annual worship of "hajj" is performed in this month, which gives it special significance. Some specific merits and rules relevant to this month are mentioned below:
First Ten Days
The first ten days of Zulhijjah are among the most magnificent days in Islamic calendar. The Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, has said, "One fast during these days is equal to the fasting of one complete year, and the worship of one night during this period is equal to the worship in the "Lailatul-Qadr".

Ruling of Jummu'ah Salah on Eid Day

CHECKED AND APPROVED by: Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakaatuhu

According to the Hanafi, Shaaf’ee and Maaliki Madhab, if Eid falls on a Friday, then the Eid Salaat and Khutbah will not suffice for Jummu’ah. The jurists have ruled that these are two different commandments and cannot be combined under any circumstance. (I’laaus Sunan vol.8 pg.92)

Photography and Video

by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari

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

There are separate issues relating to picture-making (taswir), hence it would be good to understand each issue separately and the Shariah ruling on it:

1) Drawing/Painting Pictures of Humans and Animals
As it is common knowledge, there are countless Hadiths narrated from the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) that strictly prohibit painting pictures of animate objects, for example:
Sayyiduna Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) forbade the keeping of pictures at home and making them." (Sunan Tirmidhi, no: 1749)

Rules of Ramadan

by Mufti Muhammad Shafi (rah)

To Fast during the blessed month of Ramadan is the 3rd obligation of Islam. Whoever denies this obligation doesn't remain a muslim.
He who fails to fulfill this obligation is a grave sinner.
Rasulullah said: "Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan, with full faith in Allah Ta'ala and expectation of reward, all his past (minor) sins will be forgiven. (Sahih Bukhari; Hadith 38)

The Niyyah (Intention) of Fasting
Niyyah refers to the intention of the heart. Verbal utterance is not a condition.
Intention is a condition for the fast. If one doesn't make intention of fasting but abstains from eating and drinking, then too his fast will not be accepted.

Cash Back

Question:
What is the ruling on accepting cash back bonuses from credit cards. For example, a particular credit card company gives 1% cash back for all purchases through it. One must wait though till it reaches the level of $20 or more, or within a certain period of time.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
If one uses the credit cards for purchasing and the bill is paid on time (and one has the ability to actually do so) without requiring to pay any interest, then it would be permissible to use them, as outlined by the contemporary scholars, such as Shaykh Taqi Usmani and major Arab scholars.
If the cash back bonuses from the usage of credit cards are a reward from the credit card companies in order to attract customers, then this is legally considered a gift (hiba).
If there are no other impermissible elements, such as gambling, then it would be permissible to accept such rewards and benefits. The same ruling is on bonus miles and points offered by the companies.
And Allah knows best
Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari, UK

Sha'ban: Merits, Do's, and Dont's

By Mufti Taqi Usmani

Sha'ban is one of the meritorious months for which we find some particular instructions in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. It is reported in the authentic ahadith that Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to fast most of the month in Sha'ban. These fasts were not obligatory on him but Sha'ban is the month immediately preceding the month of Ramadan.

The Laws of the Beard in the Light of Ahadith

The Laws of the Beard in the Light of Ahadith
by Shaykhul Hadith Hadhrat Moulana Fazlur Rahmaan Azmi

THE BEARD
Islaam is a complete way of life. Just as all other aspects of Islaam, Mua'asharaat (social dealings) also play a vital role in Islaam. Guidelines regarding a person's outer appearance, form and clothing are contained in the teachings of Islaam. A true and complete Muslim is he who adheres to these Islaamic teachings and practices upon them. While Allaah Ta'aala is aware of our inner qualities, there is a social need for our outer condition to be correct. Therefore, the claim of having complete Islaam without one's outer condition being proper is false.

THE SHARI’ BASIS OF NIQAB (FACE COVERING/VEIL)

Question:
Assalaimuakum
What happens if you don't wear the veil, is there any punishment you get, and is it bad if you don't wear one?
Answer:
Assalamalakium, Sister below is a comprehensive piece of writing (fatwa) regarding the veil in Islam. I anticipate that this will be helpful in receiving your answer.
The Answer below is taken from the Darul Iftaa of Mufti Ebrahim Desai

THE SHARI’ BASIS OF NIQAB (FACE COVERING/VEIL)
INTRODUCTION

Article on Music

There are numerous evidences in the Qur’an and Sunnah which proves that music and songs are not permissible. We will attempt to look at a few:
1) Allah Most High says:
“And there are among men, those that purchase idle tales, to mislead (men) from the path of Allah and throw ridicule. For such there will be a humiliating punishment” (Surah Luqman, V. 6).
The great Companion Abd Allah ibn Mas’ud (Allah be pleased with him) states in the explanation of the word “idle tales”:
“By Allah its meaning is music” (Sunan al-Bayhaqi, 1/223 & authenticated by al-Hakim in his Mustadrak, 2/411).

The Islamic Dress Code

Assalamwalaikum WR WB,
I have a question about wearing shalwaar kaameez. Is it Sunnat to wear it? What proof is there? Is it because it is a clothing of modesty, then would wearing loose pant shirt be also considered Sunnat? Jazak'Allah Khair in advance for answering this question.
Answer
The Islamic Dress Code by Khalid Baig
What would you think of a home that provided no shelter and no privacy? What would you think of a meal that provided no nourishment and no energy? It does not take much to realize that if one were in the business of selling any of these he would go bankrupt very quickly. Yet, amazingly the rules seem to be different when it comes to another basic need: clothing, especially women's clothing. Every year fashion centers in Europe and America come up with the latest designs. And what have they designed? Another way of not covering the body; the dress equivalent of the home that provides no shelter and no privacy.

Rulings of Quraan on Mobile Devices

Question:
I have a pocket Quran on my mobile phone, I wanted to know that if I could recite it without wudhu, or maybe possibly touch it or not without wudhu?
Answer:
1. It is permissible to recite the Quraan without wudhu. (From ones’ memory with out touching the Quraan)
ويباح له قراءة القرآن لما روي أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم كان لا يحجزه من قراءة القرآن شيء إلا الجنابة
(Badaa’I us Sanaa’I Vol. 1. Pg. 141 Darul Kutub Deoband)

2. It will be permissible to touch the mobile phone without wudhu, however it will not be permissible to touch the actual text that appears on the screen of the mobile phone without wudhu.
(قوله مس مصحف) (قوله اى ما فيه آيه) لكن لا يحرم فى غير المصحف الا بالمكتوب: اى موضع الكتابة.
(Durrul Mukhtaar Vol. 1. Pg. 173 H M Saeed)

CONDITIONS OF ZAKAAT

CONDITIONS OF ZAKAAT

Scholars have established specific conditions or requirements for Zakat to be incumbent on the individual. Some of these conditions are related to the person that pays the Zakat and others to the property itself:
ISLAM

Zakah is only incumbent on Muslims. This is because it is one of the pillars of Islam. Allah says, "Take from their wealth a sadaqah in order to purify them and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them." [9:103] This verse is addressing Muslims and not the disbelievers, for the latter are not entitled to purification and sanctification. Furthermore, Muslims are the ones in need of purification. This shows that zakah is not mandatory upon the disbelievers and it is not to be collected from them unless they embrace Islam. In the above hadeeth, the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhe wasallam, asked Mu'adh to tell those who believed and established salah of their obligation of zakah. This also shows that zakah is not incumbent on the non-Muslim. However, the non-Muslims will be questioned about it in the hereafter because they are commanded to follow the Shari'ah, it's principle and branches.

RECIPIENTS OF ZAKAAT

RECIPIENTS OF ZAKAAT

Now that we understand zakah, and its various conditions and calculation, we must now learn who it is payable to. Those who are entitled to receive zakah are grouped into eight categories, as determined by the Qur'an and Sunnah. Allah says, "Sadaqat are only for the poor who do not beg and the poor who beg and those employed to collect them, and for attracting the hearts (of those who have been inclined towards Islam), and to free the captives and for those in debt and for Allah's Cause, and for the wayfarer a due imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise." [9:60]
The Fuqaraa (the poor who do not beg)

These may have money, but it is not sufficient for their basic needs. Others have stated that these people have nothing. Allah says, 'If they are Fuqaraa (poor), Allah will enrich them out of His Bounty.' (24:32)

Assalama'lakium wa Rahmatullahe wa Barakatuhu, Salaamun alla minita'baul huda........
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