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Q. What is the deifinition of Riba according to the Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet ( Sallaho Alaihai Wasallam ). Does it cover the simple and compound interest existing in the present day financial transactions?

A. The word, Riba as understood from the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, is any extra payment received over and above the prin- cipal amount, regardless of the fact that extra amount is significant or insignificant. Islam, therefore, considers the Riba Haraam, in all of its forms.

The Fuqaha have given two interpretations of the word, Riba, : Riba-al-Nasia and Riba al Fadl.  Read more... (650 words, estimated 2:36 mins reading time)

Q. Respectable Mufti Saheb : Kindly forgive me for intruding on your precious time and specially during the Holy Month of Ramadan when you will be too busy. Also please forgive me in addressing this letter in English as perhaps I may not be able to express myself more clearly in Urdu.

You have been making research on various Islamic laws and principles which remain not clear in minds of people like me who have no knowledge or study of matters. As a learned scholars and having vast experience and knowledge of both Islamic Laws and practices of modern period, I hope to get a rely of my query from you. Matter is the same old one- what is the position of bank interest or profit – by whatever name it is called according to Shariah. To express whatever I understand I give below my feelings:-  Read more... (1284 words, estimated 5:08 mins reading time)

The virtues of these two places-Makkah and the Ka’ba has been expounded in many verses of the Qur’aan and the Hadith. We shall now look at a few of these. Allah says in the Qur’ an “The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka, full of blessing. On this Hazrat Ali R.A. said that houses for residence had been erected before the Ka’ba but the very first place for Hs worship was this one. It is reported above by many companions that this portion of the earth first appeared above the water after its creation and from it the rest of the earth was spread and rolled out, in the same manner as a roti is rolled out by a roller, to a large round flat bread, from a small round piece of dough.  Read more... (663 words, estimated 2:39 mins reading time)

I wish to end this chapter with a story related by the author of ‘Ithaaf’.

Once one of the mureeds of Sheikh Shilbi; the great saint; came to visit him after having performed Haj. The Sheikh asked him some questions. The mureed continues the story:

The Sheikh asked me: “Did you make a determined niyah for Haj?”

I replied: “Yes I made a firm intention for performing Haj.”

Sheikh: “Together with having made a firm intention for Haj; did you also have a firm niyah of forever giving up doing all those things you did since you were born that are opposed to the spirit of Haj?”  Read more... (1287 words, estimated 5:09 mins reading time)

Hazrat Aa’isha R.A. reports from Rasulullah Sal’am: “Verily the angels shake hands with the Hajees arriving in Mecca mounted (on horses, camels etc), and embrace those arriving on foot.”

When Hazrat Ibn Abbas become sick, he said: “Nothing fills me with more regret and sorrow than the fact that I did not perform Hajj on foot.”

Indeed Allah mentioned those arriving in Mecca on foot in the Ayah of the Quran (Durre Mansoor)

This Ayah and its translation has been mentioned at the beginning of the book.

Hazrat Ismail A.S. used to perform Hajj on foot. (Durre Mansoor)  Read more... (857 words, estimated 3:26 mins reading time)

Hazrat Ibn Abbas R.A reports from Rasulullah Sal’am who said: “Whoever goes for Hajj to Mecca on foot, and return; for him is written the reward of seven hundred good deeds performed in the Holy Haram for every stride taken.” The companions asked: “And what is the meaning of good deeds of the Haram?”  Read more... (348 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

For the inhabitants outside the boundaries of Miqat it is Wajib that at the time of their departure from Makkah they perform a parting Tawaf. (Tawaf-e-Wida). This is the last Wajib of Hajj and all three kinds of Hajj are like in this respect, as it is Wajib for one who performs any kind of Hajj. This Tawaf is not however Wajib for the people of Haram and the inhabitants of inside the boundaries of Miqat.  Read more... (423 words, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

After offering sacrifice it is Wajib to have your head shaven or your hair cut equal in length to a joint of a finger (about one inch). But it is not necessary to be done today. It may be done at any time upto the 12th of Zilhijja but you will remain under the restrictions of Ihram whatever length of time you may pass until you have your head shaven or your hair cut. In case you have your head shaven or your hair cut on the 10th of Zilhijja you will be relieved from Ihram formalities. Now, wearing sewn clothes, using perfumes, pruning nails and having your hair cut, all these things become lawful for you, but your enjoying a sexual intercourse with your wife will not be lawful until you are relieved from the obligation of Tawaf-e-Ziyarat i.e. Tawaf-e-
Fardh.  Read more... (398 words, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

Waqof-e-Muzdalifa
Today is the 10th of Zilhijja. Today the Hajj Pilgrims have to perform many Wajibat (plural of Wajib) and Faraidh (plural of Fardh) of Hajj. That is why they have been exempted from saying Id Prayers. The first Wajib is the Waqof in Muzdalifa the duration of which of from the appearance of Fajr (day break) to some time before the rising of the sun. This Wajib however stands discharged if someone goes to Mina a short while after the appearance of Fajr without waiting for the sunrise. though only saying Fajr prayers in Muzdalifa does also suffice the fulfillment of this Wajib yet Sunnat is this that the sunrise should be waited for.  Read more... (391 words, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)

Muzdalifa is situated within the boundaries of Haram at a distance of 3 miles towards the east from Mina. You are to reach Muzdalifa on the night of the 10th Zilhijja after being free from the Waqof in Arafat. Maghrib and Isha prayers are to be said together in the time of Isha. The name of Allah and Talbia should be continuously repeated throughout the way. On this day, it is not permissible for the Hajj Pilgrims to say their Maghrib prayers in Arafat or on the way to Muzdalifa. It is Wajib to delay their Maghrib prayers and to say it is Muzdalifa alongwith Isha prayers. The Waqof Fardh prayers of Isha should be said imm-
ediately after the Fardh prayers of Maghrib. Sunnat prayers of Maghrib as well as Sunnat and Witr prayers of Isha should be said afterwards (Zubda).  Read more... (318 words, estimated 1:16 mins reading time)