Know Your Deen

Islamic QA for North America

October 17, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Bleeding through salaah

Q. If bleeding caused by tooth extraction lasts for the entire duration of the salaah time, how does one go about performing the salaah ? Does one wait for the bleeding to cease then make Wudu and perform the salaah ?

A. If the bleeding is continuous, then a delay in the performance of salaah up to a few minutes before the expiry time of that particular salaah would be permissible. Just a few minutes before the time for the salaah ends, make wudhu and perform the salaah regardless of the bleeding. (Should one be able to repeat that salaah again at a later time, it would be more preferred.)

October 16, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Coping with Hard Times

Q. Why is that all my good luck seems to go away. My family life is hanging on a thread, financially I am not what I used to be… every type of misfortune that ever existed seems to have now come my way… to help remove my distress, please help me…

A. Various types of patience exist in our noble religion. Three are usually mentioned by the scholars.

  • The first type of patience is found with those working constantly to fulfill one’s obligations while simultaneously striving to do righteous deeds in all occurrences.
  • The second is the type of patience a person exercises in abstaining from actions that are prohibited.
  • Whilst the third type of patience is the one that seems to be the type of patience you are being called upon to exercise; this is when a person practices patience (during times of hardship) without complaints.

One must not complain because Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) has brought this difficulty for a reason.  It has afflicted all of our honourable predecessors, including Prophets (peace be upon them all).  Sayidinah Ayub (alayhis salaam) was a man who had a great family, with many children, and maintained a profound level of wealth — it was in the form of animals as well as property.  Gradually, Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) took away all of his belongings until he was left with very little.  Never did Ayub (alayhis salaam) complain against ALlah (SWT).  Shaytan was hardship for humans, and craves for a believer to be become despondent. Rather, Ayub (alayhis salaam) states: ‘Harm has afflicted me, and You the most Merciful of the merciful.’ Shaytann resents suchs claims; rather than human losing courage, shaytaan is asked to depart in grief. (ibn Kathir)

So, my brother, to endure is part of sunnah — sunnah of all the prophets. Every prophet went through a test, and as believers we realize, people that chose a prophetic way of life would also be called upon to go through various types of tests…. So stay strong. May Allah make things easy for you and all believing people.
If there is a book you would like to read to help endure your misfortunes, let me recommend the book by the name of “Don’t be Sad,” by Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni:

At a time in which the Muslims are beset with trials from every periphery and within, comes this heartening book rooted in the commandments of Allah (swt), the Sunnah and the excellent guidance and examples of the Muslims that have come before us.

Don’t Be Sad is an absolute must-read for all people. It is full of practical advice on how to replace sadness with a pragmatic and ultimately satisfying Islamic outlook on life. It exposes to the modern reader how Islam teaches us to deal with the tests and tribulations of this world.

So, take heart and hold firmly onto the rope of Allah (swt).

October 16, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Salaah while on Vacation

Q. How does one perform Qasr Salaah?   I will be on vacation. On vacation, is Qasr necessary, or only on travel while being a musafir?
A. Qasr Salaah is performed in the same manner as one performs any other Salaah. Performance of Qasr salah would require all your 4 Rak’aats Fardh salah to be shortened to 2 rak’aats. Your fajr two rak’aats would remain two rak’aats , and your Maghrib three would remain three rak’aats.  As for the sunnats salah which come before/after certain of the fard salah, they would read as you usually read them.  More so, if you have time, the energy, and luxury to do so, etc. by all means you should try and read them.  Being as you  already are on vacation, this should be easy for you to do!

October 16, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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A Matter of Giving and Taking

Q. My young daughter (she is not yet mature) gave me a gift.  A week later she said that it was not a gift, it was a mere loan.  Am I entitled to give it back to her?
A. First of all, you cannot take any type of gift from a minor.  Yes, she is entitled to her gift back.  What you can teach her is that when a gift is given, it should not to broadcast to others, nor should it be taken back. However, this advice would apply to her when she is similarly mature. (As for now, give your daughter what is owed back to her!)

October 14, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Paying Bills

Q. Can I deduct money from a minor’s account for hospitalization?

A. You will have to be very detailed. You must be able to sit with the administrators of the boy. You must show paperwork that proves that the minor is worth a certain amount. For example, $250,000. Thereafter, you must show the administrators of the minor that you have proven bills from a legitimate source regarding the minor. Thereafter, a deduction can be made.

October 14, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Clean or Ignore?

Q: If a person’s nose begins dripping in Salaah, what should he/she do? Should the person wipe their nose with a tissue or ignore it and continue with his Salaah?

A. If a person has a runny nose, it is better for them to blow their nose than to sniffle, make weird sounds, wipe it on their sleeves, and the like.  The individual should take out a tissue, handkerchief, or the thing they use to wipe their nose, wipe or blow the nose as to take out the maximum amount of impurity, and continue their Salaah. All this should be done with the least amount of body movements. Preferred that it all be done with one hand as well.  In other words, if a person sees you doing all this, they must still think you are in Salaah, or just a nose blower!

October 14, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Late for salaah

Q.What should I do when I come late for Salaah and the Imam is in Sajdah, must I wait for the imaam to rise up into the sitting or standing posture?

A. A person should join the Imam immediately upon reaching the congregation, whether the imaam is in a standing, sitting, or in the position of sajdah. Adbullah ibn Mubarak (May Allah shower blessing upon him as well) has stated: If a person finds the Imam in Sajdah, he should join the Imaam immediately. Imaam Tirmizi has mentioned that it is possible that this moment of joining could enable the individual for attaining total pardon for his sins (small sins and crimes against Allah.) (Sunan Tirmizi).

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October 14, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Clean clothing and Salaah

Q. Is Salaah – prayer – with urine on my clothing valid?

A. Any impurity that comes upon a person or on the clothes that a person is wearing should be immediately removed. However, if a person read a given salah  with  impurity (be it blood, urine, puss, etc) on the body or clothes, then one has to see if the impurity falls into the category of Major or minor impurity (Najasat-e-ghaliza or  Najasat-e-Khafefa).

In your case, since it is urine, it falls into the category of what is called Major impurity.  Thus if the clothing article or body part is soiled more than the size of a dirham, then the Salah must to be repeated. However, if the impurity did not exceed the size of a dirham, then the salah would be viewed as valid. (A dirham is equivalent to the size of the inside of an individual’s palm, al little larger than the size of a dollar coin.)

By contrast, had the impurity fallen into the category of what is termed as minor impurity, and does not exceed a surface of more than a quarter of a limb,  (if impurity s on the body,) or quarter or more of a given garment,(if it is upon a person’s sleeves, etc.) than the salah would be most valid, Insha-Allah.  Minor impurity is defined as droppings of those animals which can be consumed, example, sheep, goat, camel, chicken, etc.

Allah certainly knows best.