Know Your Deen

Islamic QA for North America

December 20, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

death and no one to wash

Q. we live in (xxxxxxxx) it is a remote area. Very few muslims live here. My mother is afraid of death. If the day she passes away there is no woman to wash her body and my dad has also passed away. What is the necessary thing to do to make sure she is washed? Can a man wash her if he is not husband?)

A: May Allah (SWT) award your mother a long life, Ameen.

If no female exists, than the closest male through blood ties must make tayamum (striking the hands on the ground) and wipe the hands over her body. They must not view the parts of the body that are to be concealed; this must be done to the extent that is humanly possible.
If no male family member can be present, then a non mahram must do the tayamum with gloves on and thereafter perform it on her.
Allah Certainly Knows Best

December 18, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Do I pay zakat on losses? or current value?

Q. I bought land in Dubai. It was worth 5 million US dollars. The current value of it is 3 million US. Do I pay zakat on losses? Current value? Some say……..

Answers:

  • If you have purchased the property for the purposes of it being an investment, then you would have to calculate zakat on the current value of the land. If it is 3 million, then the zakat payable would calculate for 3 million.
  • If you have purchased the land for non-investment purposes, then you would not pay zakat on it.
  • Should your intention change from non-investment to investment, then you would have to pay zakat on it. Likewise, should your intention change from investment to non-investment, then you not have to pay zakat on it
  • You would not pay zakat on the 2 million dollar loss. (Zakat is on what you own, not what you do not not own!)

Allah Certainty Knows Best.

p.s. May Allah (SWT) give you and all others barakah in all your doings, Ameen.

December 18, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Can dreams define life? Describe an upcoming event?

Q) can dreams define your life? 2) Describe an upcoming event?

Time: Monday December 14, 2009

A:

1) One cannot let a dream define life or shape our events. A dream in Islam is viewed as part of truth. A dream cannot override what the sharia states – more so regarding haram, halal, etc.

If your dream agrees with religious principles, then to act upon it would not be an issue. Quran, Sunnah would be given preference over a dream that contradicts how you should fulfill a given behavior
2) A dream can become reality. Dreams can describe an upcoming event. Allah sometimes gives a person a insight to the yet unseen. To depend on a dream would be wrong. One must give thanks to Allah when a dream works out in favor of a person

Allah Certainly Knows Best

December 16, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Interest money in my bank account

Q: Assalam Alaikum
Hope this message is reached with good health and iman inshallah.  I have some banking questions.  For my job I needed to set up a direct deposit and since I work at the X  of X, (name withheld) I decided to open up a checking account with the X of X  Credit Union because I was told the transaction would be faster.  At the time signing up for the account I didn’t read the fine print about my new account earning interest. Its only been a couple of days since I opened the account and will close it as soon as I can. I am currently with Chase and alhumdulilah my checking account does not build interest. My savings account at Chase did build interest but I closed it as soon as I found out about it. However if I set up a direct deposit with Chase they will give me a bonus check for setting up direct deposit with them. Is it ok to accept this money since its not compounded per month/year? I don’t know much about Islamic banking, and was wondering if there are some references out there that talk about
such simple things like opening a checking account and knowing what to ask and look for so its Islamically acceptable. I guess I want a simple “Idiots Guide to Islamic Finance/Banking in the US” type of book.
JAK

Time: Sunday December 13, 2009 at 10:24 am Continue Reading →

December 16, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
2 Comments

you are 30. Get a grasp of yourself!

Hello , I am a 30 year old guy financially stable. I like a girl and want to marry her. She is beautiful and pious , agrees to all major issues like Salat , Hijab and so on. My mother is not interested as there is some bad family repute about her father. I lost my father at an early age , my mom brought me and being the only son she is very senstive about my marriage. The girl’s family is ready to give marriage to me. My mother at this point has no other girls to be looked for and even if there are I will need to negotiate with things like Hijab. I have performed salaat ul isthikhara several times but still in the same place. I feel I need to get married right now to fight fornication. Please advise what I should do now.

Jazakallah. Continue Reading →

December 14, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
3 Comments

Don’t steal my milk! Shave your legs? How about jeans and music…

Question: I am the vice-president of The Muslims club at my school. In the club, we as Muslim girls pray and talk about our religion. When they ask us questions, we turn to sources in Islam that will answer their curiosity. So here are some questions some of the girls have, and please if you can, proved some sources as in (from the Quran)
1) I have some question about marriage, and other topics; is it haram for a husband to lick his wife’s nipples before and after the pregnancy. Because I heard that if, the does he becomes like a one of the children, not physically by emotionally.
2)       Is it haram for a woman to shave her legs before and after the marriage?
3)       Is it haram for a woman/girl wore jeans, because i use to wear jeans but i stop because keep telling me it haram. If it is can you, show me prove (as from the Quran) so i can show me friends.
4)       I wanted to know if listening to music it haram (all kind of music). In addition, where does it say it in the Quran?

Time: Sunday December 13, 2009 at 9:36 am Continue Reading →

December 14, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

dream — goat — i bring the meat home

Q:
Salaam,

Today I saw a dream in which I see a person with white beard and cap doing Qurbani of goat.I do not know the person.It is just that myself and my father are present at the site of qurbani
I also see him cutting the meat of the goat and the meat is later bought home by myself and my father.What does this dream mean?

Time: Sunday December 6, 2009 at 8:37 pm
A: There is some negativity attributed to this dream. I do not feel comfortable sharing its contents. I apologize.

I can make the following suggestion: Make dua for all members of your family. Ask Allah to shower his continual blessings and give each memebr a long prosperous life, Ameen.

Allah Certainly knows best.

December 14, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

qibla — few degrees off — not an issue

Q: In Pittsburgh I go to a mosque. In early days when mosque was initially established it was thought that qibla is south east. Later they larned that qibla is 54.540974 degrees north east. They have not put any lines on the carpet to establish correct direction. They try to make Lanes (Saff) for prayers and do it manually. Most of the time the direction is east not truly 54.540974 degrees north east. In Islam Is it not allowed to put lines on Carpet to establish Saf (Straight line). (Pittsburgh)

Time: Friday December 11, 2009 at 2:00 pm

A: Drawn lines are not a requirement for salah. Lines exist to make things easy. Going a few degrees off qibla would not negate the salah.

We must try to be accurate as possible without making things a burden upon ourselves.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

December 13, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
4 Comments

month long clothing project

comment: I would really appreciate it if you would post this ad on your website:

We in MSA, have started a month long clothing project as part of our monthly community project.
We would love if Islamic community of Utah would enjoin in this great act of sadaqa,
to help new refugees and homeless people in our community at large.
This volunteer project is Clothing Drive, which starts from 27th November through 18th, December. Continue Reading →

December 13, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Do i say YES or NO to a Christmas gift

Questions:

Salamu Alaykum Sheikh,

Q.1) Is it halal to accept gifts from Non-Muslims?
Q.2)  Every Christmas my friends get me gifts…would it be considered shrik if I accept?

Time: Wednesday December 2, 2009 at 10:02 am

Answers:  ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ???????

(Each answer below is based on each of the questions above)

A1) Yes, it is allowed to accept gifts from Non-Muslims .

Minor note of caution: However, if you can abstain from accepting it, it would be better for you. To bring things into ones life that is built on a foundation of pagan worship is frowned upon.

A2) It is not shirk to accept a gift for Christmas from a Non-Muslim. Shirk is when one ascribes partners with Allah.  Their religion allows them to give gifts. We cannot prevent others from giving what they wish to give.  However, it is best to make it known to your associates that you do not celebrate Christmas. More so, if there would be no adverse consequences for you making mention of the fact that you don’t celebrate it. Should a person persist in giving you a gift thereafter, you may accept it. Continue Reading →