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1. A person says to his wife: “You are equal to my mother.”,”To me, you are equal to my mother”, “According to me, you are equal to my mother”, “According to me, now you are similar to my mother or like my mother”. In all the above cases, look at the intention of the person and what did he mean by these words. If he meant that she is similar or equal to his mother in respect and piety or that she is absolutely old just like his mother, equal in age to her, etc. then there will be nothing wrong in saying all these things and no rule will be enforced. Similarly, if he did not intend anything at the time of uttering these words or did not mean what he said but merely blurted these words out, even then no rule will be enforced.  Read more... (1045 words, estimated 4:11 mins reading time)

Q. Observing Muslims all over the world which, unfortunately includes those living in Muslim countries, face the problems brought before them by unwanted interest money generated in their name through channels they do not control. This happens inspite of their being careful against whatever is likely to get them involved in interest bearing activity.

In case, interest does come into their accounts, no matter how unwanted, is there a valid way under the Shariah through which the identified interest amount can be disposed off?

1. Can it be taken out of the account and used to pay personal or company income tax.?  Read more... (843 words, estimated 3:22 mins reading time)

1. If a person finds an item on the road, pathway or a public gathering, it is haraam for him to pick it up and keep it for himself. Similarly, if he invites some guests to his house for a meal or some other reason and one of the guests leaves some of his personal possessions behind, it is haraam for him to pick it up and keep it for himself. If he decides to pick it up, he should do so with the intention of looking for it’s owner and returning it.  Read more... (741 words, estimated 2:58 mins reading time)

1. When selling an item, it is wajib on the person to show all the defects that may be found in it. It is harâm to conceal the defects and to convince the person into buying such an item.

2. After purchasing an item, a person noticed a defect in it, e.g. a woman notices that a cloth has been eaten up, a shawl has some moths in it or she notices any other defect. She now has the choice of keeping the item as it is, or returning it to the seller. However, if she decides to keep it, she will have to pay the full price of the item. It is not permissible for her to reduce an amount from the total price as a compensation for the defect. But if the seller agrees to reduce the price because of the defect, it will be permissible for her to pay less.  Read more... (1309 words, estimated 5:14 mins reading time)

Q. In your June 1990 issue you mention on page 19: “Zakah is not liable on diamonds, immaterial of how high their value may reach”.Diamonds are an expensive marketable commodity like any other valuable item, regardless of whether they are used in making jewellery or retained as investment. They bring a fairly high capital gain. When gold in any from is subject to Zakah as is value of any other item held for long or short term investment and business purposes. Why should the value of diamond be exempt? Muhammad Hasan Chand Clifton, Karachi.

A. If diamonds or precious stone are purchased for trading purpose, i.e. with a clear intention of their resale, they are certainly subject to Zakah like any other item purchased with the same intention. But if a diamond or a precious stone is kept for personal use only, in that case Zakah is not obligatory on its value.  Read more... (442 words, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

Q. 1a) Is ‘Zakah’ payable on a Bungalow/House irrespective of how big it may be, which is occupied by us? If ‘Zakah’ is payable, should it be on cost or on the Market Value?

b) If any loan is taken against the Bungalow or House, should Loan amount be deducted before calculating ‘Zakah’ Amount?

A. a) Zakah is not payable on the Bungalow/House which you own and utilize for residential purposes. However, if the Bungalow/House is purchased or built with the intention of resale, then Zakah will be payable on it’s market value.  Read more... (1141 words, estimated 4:34 mins reading time)

Q. “We do know that a woman, during her monthly periods, is forbidden from performing Salah and from the recitation of the Holy Qur’an. But we want to confirm whether the Arabic prayers and the “Tasbihat” are also prohibited for a women during her monthly period? please also tell us about the “durood Sharif”, whether it is allowed or not”
(Yasmin Nasim, Karachi)

A. Only four kinds of ‘Ibadah’ (worship) are prohibited for a woman during her monthly periods,
(i) Salah (namaz)
(ii) Fast
(iii) Tawaf of the Ka’bah
(iv) Recitation of the Holy Quran.  Read more... (228 words, estimated 55 secs reading time)

We observed an interview of an Afghan leader surrounded by sabre rattling and slogan chanting Arab Mujahideen, the Afghan leader was expressing with heavy heart the facts that Kabul is still under the iron control of the Uzbak Militia and the supremacy of Islam is not established. Thus he will fight to the last, to remove every communist from Kabul. During the whole interview he was cheered by the Arab Mujahideen with emotional and unrealistic slogans.  Read more... (1408 words, estimated 5:38 mins reading time)

Q. Some people seem to recite words used in Salah without moving their lips. What is the correct method?

A. Well, reciting words verbally is necessary in salah, no matter how low the voice is. But, the movement of the tongue, and the movement of lips in the required words, is necessary. Now, if a person stands in salah and recites everything within his heart, his salah will remain simply unperformed.

Q. Some people look here and there while in salah. Is this permissible?  Read more... (788 words, estimated 3:09 mins reading time)

Q. Family ‘A’ (father, mother and 2 major married sons) had lived permanently in Durban. The members of the family were born in Durban. They had grown up in Durban and had always regarded Durban as their permanent home. About 8 years ago, family ‘A’ moved Ladysmith, a town about 150 miles away from Durban. They settled in Ladysmith primarily for business reasons they had relocated their manufacturing plant from Durban to Ladysmith in order to take advantage of certain Government benefits and concessions arising out of such relocation of their business. The family still owns a home and other property in Durban and still runs an Office in Durban. The third son is residing in Durban with his family and the brothers and sisters of the parents and their respective family units all reside permanently in Durban. Family ‘A’ wants to know :  Read more... (462 words, estimated 1:51 mins reading time)