I am diabetic and use a continuous glucose monitoring sensor (FreeStyle Libre) that is inserted under the skin and remains attached for two weeks. Water does not reach the skin beneath the sensor during ghusl. Is my ghusl valid according to the Ḥanafī madhhab? If removing it is required, I would have to discard the sensor and replace it, and I am concerned about my health management.
In the Ḥanafī madhhab, the obligation of ghusl is that water must flow over the entire outer body, including the skin. However, the jurists also clearly state that when there […]
My father passed away three years ago, and the financial responsibility of the household has fallen upon me and my brother. My family is asking me to take an interest-based loan to pay for my younger sister’s college tuition, even though I cannot afford it and I am still recovering financially. Is it permissible for them to ask me to take a loan with ribā? Is it fair for them to demand more than I can handle? Is it permissible to buy a house through ribā when renting is possible? And is it permissible for my brother to manage a gas station where alcohol is sold?
First, it is not permissible for anyone to ask you to take a loan involving ribā in order to pay for your sister’s education. Ribā is clearly and categorically prohibited […]
A woman was married according to Christian rites, then was divorced through the court while she was still Christian. After that, she embraced Islam and now wishes to marry a Muslim man. Is her previous divorce valid, or does she need another divorce before marrying the Muslim man?
First: The marriage that took place between her and her Christian husband is considered valid in Islamic law. Marriages of non-Muslims are recognized as valid among them if they fulfill […]
If a physician is required to work night shift from 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM for one week during residency training and cannot avoid it, is it permissible to combine Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr in the late afternoon in order to get enough sleep?
The five daily prayers are obligatory at specific times, and performing them within their prescribed times is the foundation of the obligation. Allah says: “Indeed, prayer has been prescribed upon […]
As someone who follows the Hanafi madhhab, what should I do if the masjid performs Salāt al-Witr in a different manner? Is it correct to intend nafl behind the imam and then pray my own Witr afterward? And is it appropriate to follow the imam, then stand after his salām and add a rakʿah, and later pray my own Witr separately?
Salāt al-Witr is an emphasized act of worship in all four madhāhib, though they differ regarding its precise ruling and method. The Hanafi school holds that Witr is wājib and […]
If I did not make up my missed fasts from the previous Ramadan, and the delay was not due to illness or a valid excuse, do I have to both pay fidyah and make them up after this coming Ramadan finishes?
If a person misses fasts in Ramadan due to a valid reason, such as menstruation or travel, it becomes obligatory to make them up before the next Ramadan arrives. Allah […]
With youth today, especially high school and college students, how should we explain what is permissible in Islam regarding interaction with the opposite gender, such as talking, chatting, selfies, hugging, and holding hands? Are there lectures or programs they should attend?
The foundation of this discussion must begin with the objectives of Islam regarding modesty and the protection of the heart. Islam does not deny natural attraction between males and females, […]
I have a chronic illness controlled for over 15 years by a medication whose capsule likely contains porcine-derived gelatin. Alternatives exist in the same drug class, but they differ in formulation and may not affect my body identically. Switching carries uncertainty and potential risk of destabilizing remission. Am I required to switch? Does this fall under necessity? May I continue my current medication?
You have approached this matter with sincerity and deep concern for pleasing Allah, and that itself is a sign of faith. It is important first to remember that the default […]
Why do many North American masājid use the 15° (ISNA) calculation for Fajr—rather than 18°—and how should congregants handle the practical difference for prayer times versus starting the fast?
Regarding why 15° (ISNA) was chosen in a North American context, many masājid adopted ISNA because it became a widely used standard for North America and because a number of […]
We are encouraged to read Sūrah al-Mulk nightly for protection from the punishment of the grave. If someone cannot read Arabic, does reading the translation offer the same protection, or should they try to read the transliteration instead?
The virtue associated with Sūrah al-Mulk is established in authentic narrations. The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is a sūrah of thirty verses which interceded for a man until he was […]
I am trying to understand the exact end date of the ʿiddah period after a first divorce. If the divorce occurred while I was not on my period, does the ʿiddah end at the start of the third menstrual period after divorce, or at the completion of the third menstrual period, counting from the start of the first menstrual period after divorce?
Allah تعالى states regarding a divorced woman who menstruates: “Divorced women shall wait by themselves for three quru’.” This verse is the foundation for the ruling of ʿiddah after divorce […]
Is the following ruling supported by evidence or by any of the four main schools of Islamic law? The ruling states: “If any emergency arises during prayer and you must leave prayer, you should make one taslīm to the right side only, take care of the matter quickly, and complete the prayer from where you ended. If the matter takes a long time, then redo the prayer from the start.”
In its general wording, this ruling is not accurate as stated, and it does not fully reflect the positions of the four Sunni schools. Parts of it overlap loosely with […]
