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Q. “Can one recite the Holy Qur’an with moderate loudness, when one is offering not in congregation (jama’ah) please elaborate the correct position in the context of Shari’ah”. (Muhammad Yousuf Ghani, Karachi)

A. Yes, it is permissible, rather advisable, to recite the surah al fatihah and other verses of the Holy Qur’an with moderate loudness, when one is offering individually, the salah of fajr, maghrib and Isha’ but it is not allowed to recite loudly in the Zuhr and ‘Asr prayers. Loud recitation is also available in the nafl Salah which is offered in the night hours, like tahajjud or Awwabin. As for the nawafil offered in daytime, it is also permissible, though not advisable.

Q. About being employed in bank. Is it correct Shari’ah-wise?

A. To begin with, employment in a bank, run on the basis of interest, is not permissible. However, a person employed in a bank is advised that he should not leave his job there immediately. He is rather told that he should look for some other permissible job elsewhere, and when he succeeds in getting one, he should leave the job with the bank – but, the important point here is that he should make all possible efforts he can in this direction.

Q. What if he cannot find a suitable job?  Read more... (186 words, estimated 45 secs reading time)

Q. There are a number of books which contain the full translation of the Holy Qur’an without giving the Qur’anic text in Arabic. Please explain whether reading of such translations has the same reward as the recitation of the Arabic text of the Holy Qur’an is supposed to have. Moreover, can one touch such translation in a state of impurity and if somebody reads the translation of the verse of ‘Sajdah’ is it incumbent upon him to perform the sajdah of tilawat? (Anonymous)  Read more... (340 words, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)

Q. The word ‘Shaheed’ has been frequently used in the books, newspapers and magazines for different type of people. I am sure that this word should have a specific connotation in the Islamic terminology. I will be grateful if you please explain the true meaning of this word and the categories of persons for whom this terms may be applied in Shari’ah.
(Abdul Sattar, Chicago)

A. In fact ‘Shaheed’, is a specific term, used in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah. It has certainly a specific meaning and one should be careful before applying this term to a person and you should ascertain whether hi is really qualified to be called a Shaheed.  Read more... (523 words, estimated 2:06 mins reading time)

Q. “The Fiqh Academy has also allowed installment sales. Does this mean that I can now buy a house in UK or USA on installments bearing in mind that each installment includes repayment of “principal” and “interest”.

A. Sale on installment should never be confused with a transaction of interest bearing loan. In a sale transaction subject matter of contract is a commodity which should necessarily be owned by the seller at the time of sale and should be in his possession. But in the case of loan the subject matter of the transaction is money which is advanced to the borrower. The house financing schemes generally practiced in the western countries are based purely on interest. The banks advance money for the purchase of the house and charge interest on it. The house is mortgaged as a security for the repayment of the loan. This transaction has nothing to do with a transaction of sale on installments.  Read more... (359 words, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

Q. “The scholars of Fiqh Accademy have approved the use of credit cards as reported by Arab News, 15 May.As you know, banks charge a fixed annual fee for credit cards use. Can I ask the bank to issue a credit card to me and offset their annual fee against the interest which I do not take from them?
(Muhammad Salim Desai, Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia)

A. The report of Arab news is not correct. In fact, the Islamic Fiqh Academy, after a preliminary discussion on the issue of credit cards, has deferred the matter to the next session without adopting a specific resolution in this respect.  Read more... (401 words, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

Q. 1. “The finance Company is asked by clients for Machinery, Cars, Equipment, etc on credit. Can it purchase these and other items by cash or credit and then sell them at either 20%, 30% or 40% profit in conformity to payments period and mutual agreement. Is the above form of contracts permissible or not? The above stated percentage of profit are to be paid in cash by the client while the balance is paid over agreed terms.
(Y.Loonat, Mozambique)

A. The proposed transaction is called Murabaha and it can be permissible in Shari’ah subject to the following conditions:  Read more... (1738 words, estimated 6:57 mins reading time)

Q. “Is car insurance permissible? The photo-copy of an article published in “Arab News” is enclosed wherein it is held that car insurance is perfectly permissible and it is not against the concept of “Tawakkul” or “Taqdeer”. Please explain whether or not this viewpoint is correct in Shari’ah.”
(Mansoor Qadri, Jeddah)

A. I have gone through the enclosed article, and I am sorry to say that the viewpoint mentioned therin does not reflect the correct position of insurance according to the principles of Shari’ah as recognized by the overwhelming majority of the contemporary Jurists.  Read more... (679 words, estimated 2:43 mins reading time)

Q. “On page 5 of the october, 1993 issue of ALBALAGH I have read with interest the commentary on Verses 180-182 and particularly the Hadith narrated by Sayyidna Ibn Abbas (R.A) and the conclusion given which purports to make it permissbile for an inheritor to receive more than his/her share if all inheritors allow the enforcement of a will which names an inheritor to receive more than his/her share.  Read more... (570 words, estimated 2:17 mins reading time)

Q. 1. The bank would purchase the land-or property from the vendor and sell it to the would be buyer on an installment basis. Each installment would act as an increasing participation by the tenant in the property until such time as all the installments have been paid. At that time the tenant would contractually be given ownership of the property. The bank would profit from the sale of the land or property together with an arrangement fee part of which would be rebatable conditional on the buyer making the installment of the purchase in accordance with the terms of the contract.  Read more... (1189 words, estimated 4:45 mins reading time)