I was praying four rak‘ahs of Sunnah before Ẓuhr. During my prayer, another brother came and began praying behind me, intending to follow me as an imam. Is this permissible, and what should be done in such a situation?
It is permissible in Islamic law for a person praying a voluntary (nafl or sunnah) prayer to be followed by another person who intends to pray in congregation. This is […]
Is celebrating birthdays considered haram or disliked (makrūh) in Islam?
There is no explicit text in the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah that directly addresses the practice of celebrating birthdays. Therefore, scholars have differed in their rulings based on principles of […]
The name Mīkāl appears in the Qur’an in Surah al-Baqarah, while many hadith use the name Mīkā’īl for the angel. When choosing a baby name, is it permissible to use either Mīkāl or Mīkā’īl, or is only Mīkā’īl permissible?
Allah ﷻ mentions the angel in the Qur’an using the name Mīkāl, saying: “Whoever is an enemy to Allah, His angels, His messengers, Jibrīl and Mīkāl—then indeed Allah is an […]
What is the correct interpretation of Qur’an 4:34, and what is the significance and context in which this verse was revealed?
All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ. Allah ﷻ says: “Men are caretakers (qawwāmūn) of women by what Allah has […]
A Muslim wedding cake maker collaborates with planners and venues and may be referred couples from the LGBTQ community. This involves consultations, tastings, and producing a wedding cake. From a fiqh perspective, is providing such services permissible, or does it constitute assisting in something impermissible? If the baker knows the couple is an LGBTQ couple, must the service be declined?
In Islamic law, transactions are evaluated not only by their outward permissibility but also by their purpose and consequences. A central principle in fiqh is that assisting directly in sin […]
Is adopting children halal in Islam? If so, what are the restrictions or guidelines that must be observed?
Islam strongly encourages caring for orphans and vulnerable children, and this is among the most virtuous deeds. The Prophet ﷺ said: “I and the one who sponsors an orphan will […]
A Muslim woman wishes to marry a righteous Muslim man of good character and financial ability. Her parents and extended family acknowledge his righteousness and suitability but refuse the marriage solely due to ethnicity and tribal considerations. After nearly two years of effort, they remain unwilling to proceed unless she marries within a very specific tribe that is rare in her country. Is it permissible for her to have her nikāḥ conducted without her father and appoint an imam as her walī?
Islam establishes marriage upon the foundations of religion, character, and compatibility, not ethnicity or tribal lineage. The Prophet ﷺ said: “If there comes to you one whose religion and character […]
Is it permissible to eat steak that is not well done, given that some red liquid remains, and people are concerned it may be blood?
In Islamic law, consuming flowing blood is prohibited, while meat itself is permissible once the animal has been properly slaughtered according to Sharīʿah. Allah تعالى says: “Forbidden to you are […]
If I am not fond of cartoons or entertainment in general and do not watch such things on my own, but my family watches cartoons once a week or less, should I avoid watching altogether, or should I occasionally join them out of compassion, family bonding, or social pressure? I often feel conflicted in these situations.
In Islam, the general principle regarding permissible entertainment is that it is allowed so long as it does not involve anything haram, does not distract one from obligations, and does […]
I invested $2,000 in a small business. The agreement was that I would receive 1% of all sales until I receive my original $2,000 plus an additional 50%, meaning a total of $3,000. Is this arrangement permissible in Islam, or is it effectively a workaround for interest (ribā)?
In Islamic law, the permissibility of an investment depends on whether it is structured as a partnership (shirkah) or a loan (qard). The distinction between the two is essential. If […]
A shop offers a “surprise biryani bag” after 8:00 pm for a fixed price of $5. The description states that the customer will receive a plate of food likely containing biryani dishes, but the exact items and variety are not guaranteed. Does this transaction fall under prohibited gharar (excessive uncertainty), since the buyer does not know exactly what he is purchasing? Is it halal?
In Islamic commercial law, a sale is valid when the item being sold is sufficiently known and the uncertainty (gharar) is not excessive. The Prophet ﷺ prohibited sales involving gharar […]
I am looking to open a bank account with global reach. The banks that suit my needs offer checking accounts that pay approximately 0.5% interest on deposited funds. Is it permissible to open such an account and then donate the interest earned each year to the poor or to charity?
Ribā (interest) is categorically prohibited in Islam by clear and decisive texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Allah ﷻ says: “Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden ribā.”(Qur’an 2:275) The […]
