A company (Liberis) offers me $5,000 upfront through eBay, and from the beginning, a fixed “service fee” of $800 is added, making the total repayment $5,800. There is no stated interest (APR) and no late fees. Repayment is taken automatically as approximately 25% of my future eBay sales until the full $5,800 is collected. The total amount does not change based on how quickly or slowly I repay. Is this permissible in Islam?
The central issue in this transaction is whether it constitutes a loan (qarḍ) with an increase, or a valid sale-based or partnership-based financing structure. In Islamic law, the ruling depends […]
I was in a ḥarām relationship with a woman who has now accepted Islam and is trying to practice, including wearing ḥijāb. However, my parents refuse the marriage due to her past and say it affects family honor. I feel torn between my love for her and my duty to my parents. What is the correct course of action in Islam?
First, it is important to recognize that what has passed in a person’s life before Islam, or before sincere repentance, does not define their standing in the sight of Allah. […]
I have received a job offer to work as a bank teller. My role would mainly involve depositing and withdrawing money and assisting customers with their accounts. I would not directly be involved in selling or dealing with interest-based products. Is it permissible for me to take this job?
Ribā (interest) is among the gravest prohibitions in Islam, and the texts regarding it are very severe. Allah says: “Allah has permitted trade and forbidden ribā.” (2:275). The Prophet ﷺ […]
We already performed the ʿAqīqah properly on the seventh day in another country, but now we want to host a gathering locally to feed family and friends. Can we consider this gathering as a “continuation” or “extension” of the original ʿAqīqah, since we originally intended to include them but could not? Or should we avoid connecting it to the ʿAqīqah altogether?
The ʿAqīqah, as established in the Sunnah, is a specific act tied to the sacrifice offered on behalf of the child. Once that sacrifice has been performed, the Sunnah of […]
Is the name “Shihāb” permissible in Islam, given that there is a narration mentioning the Prophet ﷺ changed this name? Was it specifically prohibited, and should someone who already has this name change it? Also, what is the ruling on the name “Āshikur Raḥmān”?
Islam places importance on choosing good names with sound meanings, as names carry meanings and identity. The Prophet ﷺ would sometimes change names that had inappropriate, negative, or problematic meanings. […]
I am making monthly donations to my local masjid on a recurring plan. Can I count these contributions as zakāt?
Zakāt is an act of worship that must be given only to specific categories of recipients defined by Allah. Allah says: “Zakat expenditures are only for the poor, the needy, […]
I did not fast this Ramadan because I was breastfeeding and only 3 weeks postpartum when Ramadan began. What is required of me now—do I only make up the fasts, or do I also have to pay fidyah?
A woman who misses fasting due to postpartum recovery (nifās) and breastfeeding falls under those who are excused in the Sharīʿah. Allah says: “And whoever is ill or on a […]
Should the niṣāb for money be calculated separately from gold and jewelry? For example, if someone has $100,000 in cash but only 5 grams of gold, should zakāt be paid only on the money since the gold is below its niṣāb, or should the gold and money be combined and zakāt paid on the total?
Zakāt is obligatory on wealth that reaches the niṣāb and remains in one’s possession for a lunar year. The Prophet ﷺ established the niṣāb for gold and silver, and these […]
My wife received a significant amount of gold jewelry during our wedding, totaling about 277 grams. It was given as personal jewelry, not as an investment or for trade. However, because some of the pieces are extravagant, she cannot wear them regularly and may wear them rarely, perhaps once a year. I understand that the majority of scholars do not require zakāt on personal jewelry worn by women, but some sources say zakāt becomes due if the amount is considered excessive. Would this amount be considered “excess” according to the majority of scholars, and would zakāt then be required?
The issue of zakāt on personal gold and silver jewelry worn by women is a well-known area of scholarly disagreement. The Hanafi school holds that zakāt is obligatory on all […]
When my daughter was born about seven months ago, we performed the ʿAqīqah on the seventh day in Bangladesh and distributed the meat to poor Muslim orphan children in a madrasa. Now we would like to host a second gathering in North Carolina and feed the Muslim family, relatives, and friends. We would not shave the child’s hair again or specifically distribute the meat to the poor since that was already done. Is it permissible to do a second ʿAqīqah in this manner?
The ʿAqīqah is a Sunnah act that is performed to thank Allah for the blessing of a child. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Every child is held in pledge for his ʿaqīqah; […]
Is it valid for adults to pray behind a minor (a boy who has not yet reached puberty) as the imam in Tarāwīḥ prayer? In some ḥifẓ institutions during Ramadan, students sometimes lead each other in Tarāwīḥ for the purpose of strengthening memorization, and occasionally teachers or older students join the congregation behind a minor who is leading.
The scholars of the four madhāhib discussed the ruling of a minor leading the prayer, and they differed in their conclusions based on their interpretation of the evidence. The Hanafi […]
Is it permissible to give zakāt to a sibling who is in debt due to a home loan involving interest? If I instruct them to use the zakāt only to reduce the principal of the loan and not the interest, would that be permissible?
Zakāt may only be given to the categories mentioned by Allah in the Qur’an. Allah says: “Zakat expenditures are only for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect it, those […]
