Dec. 16, 1990 Richardson, Tx First Revision: April 17,91 Answering started : Friday May 24,91 ISLAMIC ISSUES OF MUSLIMS IN AMERICA ( An Analytical Study and Suggested Solutions ) Dr. Yusuf Ziya Kavakci LLB. BD. Ph.D. (Istanbul) Director of Islamic Center Richardson, Tx Preface Dear Brother or Sister, Here are some problems which are frequently faced by muslims living in non-islamic state. These are real life, de facto situations they are confronted with. Since there is no history in islamic matters in the hand, one needs to utterly raise these problems and think loudly. This may lead perhaps to attract the interest of concerned authorities and personalities who may come up with some solutions or suggestions to solutions. Perhaps the author has attempeted for the first time to compile a list of these problems and analize them in a humble scholarly way within the level of his capacity to show an iterest of studying them. Of course the Qur'an is the main source in Islam followed by the Hadith. But the author is not in favour of denying or ignoring the scholarly studies done in the past regarding Fiqh, Methodology of Fiqh and Tafsir etc. The ijtihad worked as a great instrument in the development of Islamic solutions to the problems in the past and it may work and has to worktoday as well, maybe a little more organized and collective way. That will be better than individual opinions. So the concerns and approaches to solutions will be shared by a congregation ( jama'ah from among the Ummah ). We are living in a very different conditions and experincing a very widely variants of practices and the circles and the rationals. Muslims are living in a non-Muslim country having no state authority mandate. They chose to be there with their free wills by getting visa. The state they are living in are not totally to be qulaified as dar al-harb, even dar al-kufr in broad sense. Muslims living in this kind status quo, may not be classified as captives or as one who joinde dar al-harb by changing the religion etc. So traditonal chapters of Fiqh are not easily in verbatum applicable to their status. To my knowkedge no chapter in fiqh is designed to facciliutate the permanent residence of Muslims in a non-Muslim country, except for spreading Islam, or education or to get treatment for the desease which cannot be cured in the country of origin. Some one had to care about the issues and to draw the attention of concerned authorities and individuals, hoping that a helanig respeonse may echoe from slame where in the world, soon or later. That was the motive in drafting these lines and putting things in writing. This analytical study is desperately needed. Inthe pastour ancestors have produced fatawas for the problems. They posed the problem in a question formula and gave a short answer by using the expression of " allowed " or " not permissible ". Fatawa of Qadikhan, Fatawa al-Hindiyyah or Alamgiriyyah which was produced in India can be mentioned in this category. The fatwas of Ebussuud Efendi played a very great role during the Ottoman Period, as other compilations of fatwas did. The fatwas of Shaltut and others arewell known in the last decades. I think fatwa system,different role however, has a history in Jewish and greco-roman traditions as well. Some of the suggestions might not have practical impact nowadays, they may be rather theoretical, because of the life flowing beond and outside of religious motives and impetus. The opinions and views expressed here are only suggestions to solutions. They are not final verdicts at all. It is an attempt to help brothers and sisters who want to do something about these problems to help the scholars consider solutions to these problems and similar ones. The format of summary, analysis, debate and arguments, opinions, suggestions and sources are mainly followed in dealing the problems and issues. We must not forget that the problems and issues delt with here are strictly related to the non-Muslim country and non-Islamic enviroment. Our motto is " Allahu alamu bis-sawab (Allah knows the truth) ". April 1991 Ricardson, Texas Y.Z.K. A List of Frequently Encountered Problems of Muslims by Dr. Yusuf Ziya Kavakci Dear Reader, Here is a draft list of issues and problems encontered by muslims in this country. An analytical study of these issues and suggestions to solutions are underway and it may take quite a bit time to finalize it. The list is a draft so far and will probably stay being draft all the in future. Any addition or comment from any concerned and interested brother or sister will be appreciated. Thank you. I. Taharah ( Islamic Purification ): 1. Is it necessary to be cleansed and purified by water? 2. Is it good to have istibra and istinja after using the bathroom? 3. What is the procedure of tayammum? 4. Is wiping over the socks or shoes permitted during wudu? 5. Does touching a dog break ablution? 6. Does touching a woman annul wudu? 7. Does a fixture fixed by dentist in the mouth impede the ablution and ghusl status? 8. There are some remnants of paint in the hand of a painter. Can he get ablution as is? 9. Is it necessary to take a shower after washing a dead body? 10. Can a woman make mash on a whig? 11. Is it necessary for a sister to take wudu or shower after being examined by hand through vagina? 12. Has the person to wash the cloth where dry diaper of the child touched? 13. "I have strong support medically prescribed sock on my foot. And a normal sock on it. Can I make mash on the outer sock?" II. Salah ( Prayer ): 1. How many rak'ahs are required in witr and how is it prayed? 2. What is the nature and hukm of Jum'ah prayer in Muslim and non-muslim countries? 3. Can a busy muslim pray while standing or sitting only? 4. Salah al-janazah : How the body washed and prayed for? 5. What can a muslim do for his non-muslim relative in a funeral service? 6. If a non-muslim lady dies, what should muslims do? 7. Tarawih prayer, number of rak'ahs and recitation of Qur'an inside the prayer. 8. Is the prayer valid while the hair of a woman or her belly is uncovered or not scrupoluosly covered? 9. Is permissible that the prayer be lead by a fasiq? 10. What is the meaning of the raising of the finger when one sits in the last sitting of the prayer? 11. What is the rule in following the acts of an imam in prayer? Is it necessary to follow him immediately after he eneters in doing the act? 12. Is tahiyyat al-masjid prayer deemed to be observed while imam is on minbar at Friday prayer? 13. Whencan one shortenthe prayer and what are the rulestobe followed? 14. Is the prayer allowed with shirts on which some figures are painted or sentences are written? 15. Can a woman lead the prayer? 16. What are differences of prayers of female and male muslims? 17. What are the times of the prayers here in the U.S.A ? 18. What is the direction of Qiblah here in the U.S.A.? 19. If one is late in joining the tarawih jama'ah and he does not figure out whether the prayer is tarawih, what intention should he make and what should he do, if he discovers just the opposite? 20. What are the exact times of maghreb and morning prayers? 21. Can a non-muslim attend muslim services (salah) ? 22. Why some do muslims roll up their pants when they pray? Is there any religious rule for that? 23. How are eid prayers prayed? How many takbirs are there? 24. Can late comers to congregation pray eid prayer in the same place? What are the requirements and procedures? 25. Is prayer valid in shirts with short sleeves? 26. What is the travel distance these days in which shortening the prayers is required? What is the process of shortening them when it is deemed? 27. If someone is late to jamaah in the morning, what is he going to do with the sunnah prayer? Does he need to pray sunnah first, then join the jamaah or he may pray it after the fardh prayer with imam is over? 28. Are sunnah prayers to be observed when one is doing qsar when travelling? 29. What is the hukm of praying Jum'ahs in non-Muslim countries? 30. Is khutbah of Jum'ah needed to be given in Arabic only? 31. Is it allowed to say salah with a tie on? 32. Some Christian ladies joined us in the salah. They stood, bowed, prosrated and sat down together with us. What is the islamic view about it? 33. Can muslims pray and worship with Christians? 34. What is the rule for giving salam to one who is praying? 35. Is there "al-Salatu khairun mina 'l-`Amal" in azan of Zuhr? 36. What is the law regarding rosary and beads in Islam? 37. Is it mandatory for the imam to stand right in the middle of the rows of the followers, and is it sunnah to make them equal in both of his sides? Is it good for the imam to step back from the designated mihrab in order to find a suitable center for the row of his actual followers? 38. Iwas praying the sunnah of Zuhr. Some one came joined me as follower thinking that I was praying the fard of Zuhr. How must I act? 39. Is it good if one washes his body after maghreb of Jum'a night? Or, for sunnah, should he do it after fajr and before coming to Jum`ah prayer? 40. Is it necessary to make up missed witr-prayers? 41. Was salat al-janazah prayed for the Prophet Muhammad and who led it? 42. What is the time of Jum`ah prayer? Can it be prayed earlier than Zuhr time? 43. What is the hukm of praying janazah salah inside or outside of a masjid? 44. Are azan and iqamah to be done by women? 45. Can aperson who joins to the imam in prayer before the ruku takbir get the reward of attending takbirah al-ula? 46. Who washed the body of the Prophet Muhammad and how? 47. Is recitation of Surat al-Kahf before the fajr of Friday, or even begining Thursday evening, acceptable as sunnah of Jum`ah? 48. How should the imam be corrected when he makes mistake in loudly recitation of Qur'an during prayer? 49.Are thereany particular places for calling first and second azans for Jum`ah prayer? 50. If the shortest way between two points is not considered as safgari distance, but some one takes a way which takes long and falls into the range of safari distance, is the traveler still considered musafir in terms shrtenig the prayers? 51. Can some one break the prayer to answer the phone or open the door? 52. "I lost my job because of friday prayer. Is it exuseable for not to pray jum`ah since findinding is very defficult?" 53. "Someone said that a muslim who gets naturalized citizenship of America may not be followed as imam in jamaah prayers.What do you think about this?" 54. Is praying salah sitting acceptable while the person has no excuse? 55. "Can a masbuq bef ollowed by some one joining him later when masbuq is praying the missed rak`ahs?" 56. "I prayed sunnah of zuhr aq few minutes before the azan time. Need I to repet it ?" 57. If the cloth is so tight, is it okay to wipe on it for wudu, instead of washing it? 58. Are we leaving arms down loosed or tieing on our bellies when we stand up straight from ruku in a salah al-tasbih? 59. How the body of the Prophet was buried, vertical or horizontal to Qiblah and which direction his head lies? 60. Mother of a converted imam passed away. Her body is the church. What should he and we do? 61. Some people put their hand and recite something after the prayer in Jamaah. What is it mean? 62. I have work and able to pray jum`ah. But there is another work bettter in terms of paym4ents than this one. No jum`h over there. Can I shift to that job? 63. I heard that when one prays his shadow must not fall in front of him. That is why prhaps the people ligh the the lamp in mihrab. Is tjhere any thing in the books like that? 64. Some people wave their hand up and down like beating their knees after slam of prayer. What is it mean? 65. In Yman I remember people reading qunut loudly. What do you say about it? 66. When trawih is prayed individually, which one os better recitation loudly or secretly? 67. Is it proper to say "ashhadu anna la ilaha illa Allah" in azan? 68. Is tahajjud prayer by jama`ah observed during the time of the Prophet? 69. Can a boy who is not of the age of puberty yet lead a nafl salah? 70. Is it allowed to paray salah al-janazah after maghrib or isha when thenight is lailatu 'l-qadr? 71. If muslims and non-muslims get killed in an accident and it s not possible to differentiate muslim, how the prayer is to be observed? 72. Is tahajjud prayer jaiz after witr prayer? 73. Is it sunnah knowing exact time of jum`ah prayer and praying at home by sisters? 74. Some one said that if eid falls on jum`ah day, jum` prayer needs not to be observed. Is it correct? 75. How to pray and fast in the abnormal zones of the world? 76. If you pray sunnah of fajr in home and comer to masjid, can you still pray tahiyyat al-masjid before the fardh of fajr? 77. I saw a man praying salah inside the masjid with mini-skirt. Is it ok? 78. What is the hukm of Iskam about the cremation of the dead body? 79. What are the maximum and minimum times of ishraq and tahajjud prayers? 80. We wre travelling. We begann to pray in jama`ah in majid seperately. In second rak`ah main imam begann to lead the jama`ah. What do you advice us to do, to continue or to break the prayer and join to main jama`ah? 81. When azan and iqamah are necessary for an individual, in terms of prayers on time and missed prayers? 82. Is washing the body of a person who drowned in the lake necessary? 83. Is azan necessary for the missed prayer made up in the mosque individually? 84. Can women and children pray janazah prayer? 85. What are the bases of missed (qada') prayers? Is it practiced by the Prophet? 86. Some people pray some prayer immediately after azan of magrib and before the actual prayer. Do you elaborate on it? 87. I read some where that aman and his wife cannot form a jamaa'h prayer in home. Is it correct? 88. Which is the first prayer of the day, maghrib or fajr? When bigins the lunar day? 89. Can a woman in her menstrual period wash the body of a deceased? 90. Can women and children pray janazah prayer? 91. Iam cashier. Sometimes my hand touches a womwn with no bad intention. IS my wudhu broken? 92. Good to see imam when he leads the prayer and ask him to step a little outside of mihrab? 93. What is the best time for istikharah prayer? 94. How to arrange lines in salah, paralleling toes or wheels? 95. If there is no place to wash the body of a muslim or it is very expensive, is it jaiz to give tayammum to the body? 96. Is it ok turning the body, not the face only, when calling azan? III. Sawm ( Fasting ) : 1. Is sighting the moon needed for Ramadan and does it become mandatory for muslims to fast when some one sights it? 2. Is a shot or injection a breaker of fasting? 3. Do eyedrops break the fasting? 4. Can a faster brush his teeth with toothpaste? 5. Does swimming break the fasting? 6. Can some one who is fasting inhale a medicine if he feels he is deemed because the allergy may inflict? 6. Is there any difference between fajr time and sahur time? 7. Does the test for tuberculosis (TBN) break the fasting? 8. Does taking the blood out of the body break the fasting ( Hajamah )? 9. Does a gynocological examination of the womb of a woman break the fasting? 10. Were there two azans during the time of the prohpet in Sahar time of Ramadan? 11. "I send fidyah money for my mother's fasting days back home. When can I send? Can I send it before the end of ramadan, so that it may reach the receiver before eid?" 12. My mother gets inusulin, so she cannot fast. But she wants to make i`tkaf with inusulin. Is it ok? 13. If some one fasts and travels to west to a dastination where the difference is three or four our more in the same day when is he going to break the fast? But if he goes to east where the difference is ten, fifteen hour or more what will he do? 14. Does cleaning the ears with shwabs or with medical devices break the fasting? 15. Can a pregnant woman aor a woman who has a little baby not fast in rmadan? 16. If a lady gets clean ten minutes after imsak time, is she supposed to fast that day or not? 17. "I am a new muslim. It is very hard for me to fast. What can I do?" 18. Does lailatu 'l-qadr alternate each yer among odd numbered nights of the last ten days of ramadan? 19. Is it allowed to make i`tikaf and run business by telefone calls? 20. When to end i`tikaf in ramadan. Is it after the maghrib of the night before the eid day or after eid prayer? 21. Arab brothers say "yawmu siyamika yawmu nahrika" meaning that the eid al-adhaha will fall on the same day withwhich ramadan begins. Is it correct? 22. Is it ok to fast for solidarity or sharing the fate of the people struggling for their lives? IV. Zakah ( Alms-Giving ): 1. Is a tax acceptable as zakah? 2. Whom should zakah be given to? 3. Can a muslim living here send zakah to his/her relatives or institutes back home? 4. Can zakah be spent for the construction or maintenaince of a mosque? 5. What is the fitrah amount and a short explanation about it? Is it mandatory to declare it to the recepient? 6. Is it necessary to declare to the receipient that the money given is zakah? 7. Is zakat al-fitr necessary to be paid for a non-muslim wife? 8. Can one buy a ticket for a poor person by zakat al-fitr instead of giving him cash? 9. Can zakah be invested in publishing books for Islam? And after selling, can the capital be dispensed a litle more zakatable persons or places? In another words, can zakah be taken to another Islamic service budget as a loan and after the end of the term of agreement can it be paid off back to zakah budget? Can weestablish with zakah fund an institute and run all the expenses of that institute in a profitable and business way? 10. Can zakah be given to a person against his wage or compensation for his work in a masjid, not as wage, but as a payment for doing something good for the Community? 11. Can a muslim give sadaqah to a non-Muslim? 12. Is it allowed to give sadaqah to the mosque? 13. Is zakah to be paid for an income involved with interest? 14. How to give zakah of an income which earned from a lottery being picked by social security number without personal participation in the proces? 15. Is it islamic to give zakah from an earning of haram business? 16. Is zakatu 'l-fitr to be given for the fetus in the wombs of the mother? 17. Can zakat al-fitr be seperatyed from the wealth before eid and be it given or sent later to the recipient? Can an agent do it? 18. I paid zakah to a person eligible but not intended to be given. Can I reverse it and get zakah back? can I stop the check? 19. I did not give zakah for ten years on my savings. How can I make it and which way I must do it? 20. I have a land not cultivated. Do I need to pay any zakah for that? 21. I have pledged to give some money from my zakah. They didn't ask me yet? Is it Ok to delay for some time? V. Family Code : 1. The marriage in Islamic Law and what about it? 2. What are the conditions of marrying a non-muslim? Do free relations observed by the same people make it possible for both couples to marry each other with no penalty? 3. Can a muslim woman marry a non-muslim man? 4. If there are divorce problems, and the husband is not available to address them because he disapeared, what can his spouse do? Should she go to a muslim alim and accept his decision as the verdict of a judge, or go to him as a muslim arbitrator ( hakam )? 5. What is the hukm of covering the whole body of a woman except her face, hands and feet in Islam? What is the issue of Hijab (Pardah)? 6. What is the hukm of non-muslim women regarding the awrah of a muslim woman and man as well? Can a muslim sister be naked in the presence of a non-muslim woman? 7. She was a christian, who lived with a muslim man in a non-marital manner, and conceived a child from him. Is this child walad al-zina? What is the religion of the child? Who will take care of the child? 8. Is it allowed to say that the stepfather of a child is his real father, if the real father disappeared? Is it allowed to hide the real father from the child? 9. Can an adolescent boy get his ears pierced and wear earings? 10. Can a woman dye her hair? Can a man? 11. Can a muslim girl or woman cut some of their hair? 12. Who has the right of guardianship between a husband and wife in case of seperation or conflict? 13. Is the consent of a wali necessary in marriage? If so, if a girl here has no relatives and wali, who can make marriage possible for her under Islam? Can the imam of her mosque or chairman of an Islamic organization represent the caliph? 14. Who will take care of a girl whose father died in terms of her marriage? 15. Is it allowed for a woman to work, and can her husband take the money earned by the wife? 16. Is talaq in absentia allowed? 17. Is poligamy allowed in Islam? 18. What is the hukm of hijab in Islam? Is it cultural? 19. Can an imam make nikah with a priest collectively? Is it islamically admitted aqd? 20. Can a guardian marry minors, and what are the laws regarding that? 21. What are the rights and obligations of a non-muslim wife in a muslim family? Howshould the husband act and behave in the family? 22. "I was married in the church or by the justice of peace and I have children. Now I want to islamize my marriage. What shall I do?" 23. "I have been engaged for more than a year. May I shake my fiance's hands? 24. Can girls swim in a swimming-pool? 25. Can a man kiss the hands of a woman? 26. Is putting a girl who reached puberty, or is over 18, under hajr, here,in America to secure that she may not leave home and get stranded, allowed in Islam? 27. "I am a sunni. My wife is ja`fari. Her marriage previously did not work. She asked her husband for a divorce.He refused. The lawyer advised her to change to sunnism so that the civil court may look to her case. So she changed to sunnism. Court issued sommon to her husband. But we arranged by the postman not to deliver the summon, and the announcment was made in a very small newspaper. The court divorced her based on technical reasons of nonappearnace of the defendant. We got married and I have a son. No I am still sunni and she is ja`fari. Her husband (ex-husband) showed up and says she is his wife. What is my status?" 28. Are the gifts given during engaments and after to be caounted as for dowry? 29. Is a marriage bond between a couple dissolved automatically if the one of them commits adultery and confesses to it? 30. What are the legal status of a child of adultery? 31. If the lady became pregnant before marriage bond, then they married each other, does child become legitimate or not? 32. "In marriage certificate we wrote the mahr as to be paid in "current currency",when we married in pakistan. Now we are in U.S.A. What currency I have to pay?" 33. Are girls and women allowed in Islam to have long fingernails and toenails? 34."I am divorced muslim woman. My 18 years old son is not. A muslim man wants to marry me. But he says we can not live together with my son after marriage in the same house, since he is not muslim. What is your comment on that?" 35. A convert muslim lady married to muslim man. he left her in USA and to Jihad of Aghanistan. He refuses to take care of her here or take her tom place near to him. Now he says I may grant you divorve, but you pay me this and that much. What is you comment on that? 36. "My husband divorced me previosly. We married eachother once more. Now he said in a furious situation in one place six times divorce. Can we unite once more?" 37."Were were married according to the common law and refreshed sometimes according to Islam.Then we became muslim together at the same time. Is aour marrigge accepttable in Isla?" 38. "My wife is wwith my father-in-law. We can get well with eachother,but her father kepps her under his influence away from me. What can I do?" 39. I am intending to marry in future. I am not circumcised yet. Is it necessary to be circumcised? 40. Is acceptable in Islam to have birth control by preventing blocking the way the sperms pursue to reach the womb? 41. "Can my husband prevent me from going out to get my education and study and work?" 42. What is the practical meaning of "mata`un bi 'l-ma`ruf" in terms of divorced woman in the verse of 241 of al-baqarah? 43. I am married to a kitabiyyah. She has no hijab.She doe not pray salah. She drinks alcohol. Am I responsible for that? 44. In India we do not make nikah between tenth of muharram and end of Safar. Fourty days. Is it islamic? 45. My wife's eggs are week. Can I marry another woman islamically and take her egg and implant into my wife's body and unite with my sperm? 46. What is the amount of the milk an adopted child must get in order to fix the kinship? 47. Is wife supposed to stay in her father's home during tha iddah perid after talaq? 48. Is khul` divorce reversible? If it is, whose decison is final? or both of them have to agree? Is there any time lemeit for reversiblity? can they marry each other once more? 49. My wife has a daughter from her previous husband. when she becomes haram for me to have the daughter in my house? 50. Which one is btter for a woman working outside or going to welfare? 51. Who belongs the children after the divorce? 52. Who is the head of the muslim family? If the husband is incapacitated, disabiled or there is no husband, the children are little? 53. My husband is sunni and I am Ismaili shi`a. We have children. We are fighting about how to educate children. Does he have right to force me to his belief? 54. Is oral sex from both parties jaiz? 55. Is it Ok to make mikah in the churh and in the masjid twice? 56. Is it jaiz to make nikah when she is on her menstrual period? 57. Is it ok if the husband sends money to his father without permission of the wife? 58. If father is misusing the money, is the son still supposed to send him money? 59. When hijab has to begin for girls? What time boys and girls need to be seperated and they cannot touch each other? 60. Is fortieth day included in nifas period? 61. What are the cases by which one is allowed to cut relations with his relatives? 62. I am paying very little amoumt for my child support, because divorce time I was student, now I may afford more. But I don't think that the money will go to my chil;d. He mother will grab it? What do you advise me? 63. My divorced wife is taking my child to the churh. Can I kidnap the child and diprive him from her mother and take him back home? 64. Where a woman walks when she is with her male rlatives? 65. Is holding the hand of wife in public allowed? 66. Are the children of a muslim husband and nomuslim wife who married each other in an American court walad al-zina and what to do with them? 67. Is it jaiz to share the home with non-muslim family who hase grown daughters? 68. I am married. Have children. My father comes visits me and asks me money and many things. Am supposed to obey him? Who is the head of the family in this case? VI. Hajj ( Pilgrimage ): 1. I have monthly payments for my home. Can I go to hajj? 2. What are the requirements of hajj journey for a muslim lady? 3. If she is on her period how she is going to make hajj rituals? 4. Is it allowed to paick the names of the pilgrim candidates by drawing the names in pursuant to the quota imposed by the Saudi Gourment? 5. My mother is very old and missed me a lot. I am ghoing to Umrah on my way to home to visit her. But I intend to stay more after Umrah for hajj with her permission. Which one is better to go home immediately or to stay for hajj? 6. Is it an immediate farz to do hajj for a person who made his umrah? 7. I made hajj several times. I have a daughter in Saudi Arabia. I am in USA. can she make nafl hajj for me? VII. Waqf : 1. What arelaws of being in masjids?What is the etiquette of masajid? 2. Are non-Muslims allowed to enter masjids? Is it allowed to make joint programs with rabis and priests in the masjids? 3. Is it allowed for the masjids to be used forgeneral body meetings of the masjid association? 4. Did the Prophet have minbar ? How many steps must a minbar have and what is the maximum height of a minbar? 5. Is it allowed for a masjid to become member of the community of churhes? 6. Is it alllowed to buy a building for masjid by the money earned by a photographer, movie maker, or movie video business runner? 7. What are the borders of a masjid in terms of i`tikaf, allowing women on period etc. to enter? 8.Is it fine if I take a waqf Qur`an from the masjid and put a different print of it. I liked it very much? 9. Can a masjid be repaired and painted by non-muslims? 10. Can non-muslims repair copiers inside the masjid? 11. Can a physician answer with cordless phone to the call from his patient when he is inside the masjid? Can he break the prayer when call comes? VIII. Food and Drinks : 1. Can a muslim eat in a church, if the food is offered as offerrings to God or to Jesus Christ or if a priest is praying and mentioning the Trinity. 2. Is catfish allowed to be consumed? 3. What about shrimps and lobsters? 4. What are the conditions of Zabiha meat which is halal? 5. Is chicken, which has been fed with artificial food made of blood and remnants o a pig (and also fish fed the same way), allowed? 6. Is it it permissible to eat food prepared by a hindu, and are the utensils used by him good for eating? 7. Someone brought a gift of a statute, chocolate made of liquer, cookies made of animal shortening. How should they be disposed? May I give them to non-muslims or sell them and donate the money to masjid? 8. Is hindu prasad ( offered to their idol ) halal to a muslim? 9. Is the meat slaugheterd by a sikh with chart halal to a muslim? 10. Can we do zabiha on the second or the third day of eid al-adha, because when the eid falls on a weekend, we cannot find an inspector available? 11. Is it permissible to run a restaurant with artificial vegetable bacon in it? 12. Is the meat of animals fed with the byproducts of pig or unslaughtered animals halal? 13. Is the meat of artificially inseminated animals halal? 14. "Someone told me gelatin is used in sugar processing. What do you say?" 15. Is it against sunnah to eat while shoes are on? 16. If some one is left handed by birth and is not easy to change it, how he will eat with his right hand? 17. Is eating turkey on thanksgiving day lawful in Islam? 18. "I am married to a converted muslim.Her mother died recently. his brother invites her and us to Christmas dinner. Can we go?" 19. Is eating snake halal? 20. Is eating fish bigger than human being is halal? 21. Is milk of donkey halal to consume? 22. If a christian slaughters and a muslim standing by says basmala, is it halal? 23. Is it halal to use mouth-wshar lequids? 24. Is food included in "su'r al-mu'mini shifa'" ? 25. Is moking allowed? Were the sahabis or others smoking during the time of the Prophet? 26. Is the meat of a hunted deer for sport halal? What about if the christians hunt it? IX.Music : 1. Is music halal? Is composing or conducting concerts allowed in Islam? 2. Are there any musical instruments allowed? 3. Is dancing allowed in Islam? Are national games permissable? 4. Is just simple singing or chanting jaiz ( allowed ) in Islam? 5. Can a woman read Qur'an or sing some religious poems out loud in Islam? 6. Is using bells halal? X. Transactions : 1. Is insurance permissible in Islam? 2. What about business with and salesmanship of insurance? 3. Are retirement allowances and pensions permissible in Islam? 4. Is the money paid by insurance for a car accident halal? If the money is more than the value of the car or its repair expenses, is it still halal? 5. Can some one use an airline ticket assigned by the company for a relative by a little trick for umrah or hajj? 6. Is buying and running a business which has very small portions of alcohol materials allowed? 7. Is running a drug business in which there are some alcohol, pig or meat of unislamically slaughtered animal products permissable? 8. Is any payment made by social security permissible in Islam? 9. Is any payment taken under the name of commission, where its calculation and procedure are exactly like interest allowed or not? 10. Is the share of a muslim state in the IMF, the WB or similar institutions halal, even if interest is not there? 11. Is it allowed in Islam to file a voluntar bankrupcy? 12. Are the effects of revolutions and major forces recognized on credits and debts? If you owed some Kuwaitis of upheaval some money in dinar, what should you do after the Iraqi invasion? 13. If your company is doing a clear injustice to you by not paying overtime, can you take the law in your own hands and cheat or steal some of their products? 14. Is it jaiz to work in a restaurant, fast food or convenience store where pork, alcohol and other haram items are processed, sold, or treated, even if they are very minute in proprotion? 15. Can a Muslim accept and respond to Christmas gifts? Can he or she attend a Christmas dinner? 16. Is it permissible to give a gift for the birth-day of a wife and arrange a special gathering? 17. What is awrah? and is it allowed for a muslim womantobe uncovered in the presence a non-muslim woman? 18. Is watching TV haram or halal? 19. Are playing chess and other games halal? What about footbal and boxing? 20. Is a mortgage system halal? 21. Is it allowed to attend the parties of marriage and baptism of non-muslims or their funerals etc? 22. Is it permissible to visit with churches and to attend their services? 23. Is having an interest free checking accountin the banks functioning with interest allowed in Islam? And is the bank's exemption of charging its customer for doing some transaction interest or not? 24. What should be done with the money found in some place? 25. I stole something. Now I repent and regret it. What must I do? 26. Are all types of advertisements and windowshowings allowed in Islam? 27. Are all types of salemanship and the techniques used in this business permissible in Islam? 28. Is having a close relationship with Shiites and Ismailis allowed or not? 29. Is publishing an anouncement of business in which ham and other haram things are involved allowed? 30. Is it allowed to put a cat to sleep if one cannot afford to look after it? 31. Is putting parfumes and cosmetics on allowed? The alcohol may evaporate easily? Is it still haram? 32. My neigbour is Hindu. She asked me to give her some roses from my garden, so that she may put and offer them to the idol she keeps. Is it allowed to me to give the roses? 33. Is brokerage business and profit gained in this way allowed? 34. Are silk ties and socks permissible to a man in Islam? 35.Are the golden ring and platin which is more expensive than gold allowed in Islam? 36. Is cracking the knuckles of fingers allowed? 37. Is sitting like a dog in masjid and else where permitted? 38. What are the dar al-Islam and dar al-kufr and their consequences? 39. Is the business of selling materials taken from a pig halal for a Muslim here in America? 40. Is the cashing checks business allowed to a Muslim? 41. Is attending the services in synagogues by a public invitation sinful in Islam? 42. Is attending the commemoration of the arrival of the First Pilgrims to America by Eucharist ceremony allowed as representative of the Muslims here in America? 43. Are the advertisements done in news papers and TVs allowed? 44. Are windowshwing busineses and showing things in window cases permitted in Islam? 45. Are know-hows, copy rights and patents regognized rights in Islam? 46. Can a muslim man shake the hand with a woman? 47. Is keeping a dog allowed in Islam? 48. What about mortgages in America? 49. If you are in a churh or synagog, and you are asked to pray loudly before the food is served, what will be your position? If a priest offers the prayer, what do attending muslims have to recite or do? 50. What is the islamic hukm for a Muslim in regard to standing up when a rabbi or a priest approaches you? 51. Is pulling the cahriot by a muslim halal? 52. Is watching TV haram? 53. Is reading fictions, romances and stories, and books on mthology and philosophy haram? 54. Is reading the Bible or keeping it at home haram? 55. I made a sale contract and received an amount of erneast money. Now I want to rescind my sale commitment. What should I do? 56. Are investments to the stocks allowed in Islam? 57. Are thrift plans in companies and institutes allowed in Islam? 58. Is it mandatory to employ Muslims and to give contracts to them, preferring them to non-Muslims? 59. "I am auditor, I go to groceries and see everything inmcluding liquers and alcohol, and tell the owner they are worth so and so." Is what I do haram? 60. "I am jobless, when I go to rent an apartment,they ask me whether I have job or no. If I tell "I donot have",they donot rent me apartment. Am I allowed to lie to them and to arrange for their checking"? 61. "I am an old women, three of my cildren work in places selling some haram things, two of them are working in the bank. I donot have any income. They give me money. Is it halal for me? Can I give some to masjid as charity? Can I go to hajj? 62. Are pictures and photos allowed in Islam? 63. Is using or selling cologne halal? 64. Is shifting the body of a deceased Muslim overseas haram? 65. Is leaving or selling the body of adeceased Muslim to authorities or corporations haram? 66. If one has debts and payments in instalments and barely lives with his monthly income, is he bound to slaughter an animal in eid al-Adha festival? 67. How the papers where the names of Allah, or parts of verses are printed, to be disposed? 68. Can one distribute the meat of qurbani to the non-Muslims? 69. Is working in a dry-cleaner where alcohol and some enzymes are used as cleaner allowed? 70. Is using ink made of alcohol or some enzymes to print Qur'an allowed? 71. Is lottery machine allowed in the grocery? 72. Are things made of the skin of pig after being tenned allowed in Islam? 73. If I pay my rents in advance and get two months free tenancy, is it haram? 74. "I borrowed money with interest. I am paying it back. Someone told me to pay the principal, not to pay the interest which is outlawed." What is your view about that? 75. Is inflation haram in terms of government? 76. Is buying and selling foreign currencies in the black market with high values in a muslim country halal? 77. Is watching TV and movies theatre with women etc. haram? 78. Is the beard to be a handful long and then how is it measured ? 79. Can a state office-holder take gifts from the people? 80. Are muslim professinals free to charge whatever they wish for their services? 81. "We have shareholders' money.Some one asked us loan to pay the money ahead of time when buying something and geta 10 per cent reduction. He wants to give that amount to us. He is going to give same amount to the seller anyway. Is this process free of interest?" 82. Is buying things from a shop which does not close Jum'ah time halal? 83. Is lottery allowed in Islam? 84. Ininvoice it is written a fixed amount. Also a note saying that if we pay in ten days time., we may reduct 5 % from the principal amount. Is it halal or not? 85. Is water saleable? 86. Can the money earned from a pig or alcohol be used? 87. "My government sent me a ticket. Can I give it to someone else to be used and can I ytrade id for a cheaper one and take the difference?" 88. Is there a sin in setting the electricity system for a shop where beer is sold? 89. "I have five companies. One of them went bankrupt.It was limited liability company. Am I supposed to pay debts from other copamies according to Islam?" 90. Is an agreement on guaranteenig the debt for the creditor or capital investor in company whre the other party will run the business wekcomed in Islam? 91. Is it halal to run a business of photograf making, movie producing or video busines? 92. Is it allowed to put up chritmas tree by a muslim? 93. "Someone conve3rted to Christianity and became murtad. He comes to visit me with his wife. I donot like him What must I do?" 94. "I am getting medicad support for my american born child. Now I receiced some lumpsome payment not payed to me previously. If i report that income the authorities will cut medicad. I need money for the healthy of my baby. Is it halal?" 95. Is it allowed to put remaings of all dead bodies in one place when we need to transfer the graves to a new place? 96. If a lottery money comes to a muslim bey being picked hisa name through the newspaper subscription list or social security number? howw aree we going to qulify itt as halal or haram? 97. Is it allowed for printhouse to print lottery tickets? 98. "I worked hard and saved money here. And built a home back in my contry mainly with my money. The eldest brother rebelled against the family,ignored my father and mother and filed a suit claiming the ownership of the house. He had money here. So I fought back with his money and won the court. No can I deduct the expenses of court from his money since he caused this trouble and send back the remaing part to him?" 99. Is it allowed coloring the hair,beard and moustache? What about women? 100. I am invited to a ritual where a jewish girl is called to the Torah on the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah? Can I attend that ritual? 101. Is masturbation ans self-gratification allowed in Islam? 102. "I killed my wife bu accident. What have I to do in terms of diyah and kaffarah? 103. I lost some money of the store under my resposibilty. Whe have insurance. Must I personally pay back or depend on insurance? 104. Is coloring hairs by a woman allowed in Islam? 105. Is extending woman hairs by artificial synthetic hairs jaiz in Islam? 106. Is life insurance (both term insurance and universal insurance) together with disability insurance are allowed in Islam? 107. Is smuggling and lundering the money jaiz in Islam? What is the evidence for that? 108. Is it allowed to a muslim construction company to built a church or extend it? 109. What is the islamic rule about peacock? Is it bird? Is it halal? 110. Is neck-tie or bow-tie haram to put on? 111. Some gave the down paymrent, now he declines buying the shop. Can I keep the down made by him? 112. I save some amount in my company. They guarantee the thr principals to pay back. Each month they give some amount of dividend. Are these dividend halal? 113. Is busines with a jew allowed in Islam? 114. Is it jaiz to give money instead of slaughtering animal for qurbani? 115. What are the ethical rules of cutting nails in terms of time? 116. Is selling and buying the tickets of lottery jaiz? 117. Can I offer alcohol to the client and pay on behalf of the compnay, since I am sales manager? 118. Is it halal to have non-muslim pen-pals? 119. Is it ok to slaughter a castrated animal as qurbani? 120. Insurances are mandatory and voluntary. And unemployement commission is nothing both an insurance company. What are the islamic view about the insurance here in America? 121. If you buy your air flight ticket by American Express, you are automatically insured. Is it halal? 122. Can a partnershib be established by 40 % and 20 % and the rest for the runner of the business? 123. Is it halal not to sell directly but to tell the clients of restaurant that they may bring their own alcohol? 124. Is it halal to have a fixed salary and some certain percentage of gross sale? 125. Can I lease my real estate to some one who will lease away to a restauranteur who will serve alcohol? 126. Is it halal for me to serve in the American armed forces, as a propession? 127. My father was subcontractor, he could not pay his eployees coming from different countries because he was not paid by the main companty. He passed away. Do I need to pay for him? Or is it Ok, if I give some money to masjid for the debts he had? 128. Is jewelery business halal? Is selling the gold ring knowingly to a muslim male halal? XI. Inheritance : 1. Is a person who is naturalized here who came from a muslim country eligible to inherit from his relatives back home in the properties, both immobiles and mobiles, and also in money and stocks? 2. Can a Christian relative inherit from a muslim in any way? 3. I took a certain amount om money from my father as a loan. Now he has passed away. What am I gonig to do with that debt? 4." I am from Jordan. My mother died before my grandfathet (her father). Now my grandfather died. I have one uncle and one aunt both are the brother and sister of my mother. Grandfather left some land. can I get any share? 5. My wife is converted muslim. her father bought a life insurance and put my wife's name among the beneficiaries. What must she do? XII. Politics : 1. Is secularism allowed in Islam? 2. What is the status of an Imam, Chairman or President of an Association or Society in terms of " Uli 'l-Amr " ( People of authority ) mentioned in the Qur'an? 3. What are the hukm of preserving cultural elements, traditions,and linguisticalandracial characteristics inthe multinational and multicutural enviroments of Muslims? 4. Is a person who blasphemes the Prophets to be killed? Can he repent? If the blasphemeis exercised in a publication, can he repent verbally? 5. Is it allowed to get permanent residency or citizenship of a non-muslim country without any constraint? 6. What is the belief of the advent of Mahdi in Islam? 7. Are the captives in modern war (POW) accepted as slaves? 8. Is political killing (siyasatan katl) to secure unity allowed in Islam? 9. Is transfering the throne to the minor of the royal family acceptable in Islam? 10. Did the Prophet have a flag? What was it? 11. Did the muslim army use a password? 12. What is Holy War? What are the conditions? 13. Can a land after having been dar al-Islam turn to dar al-kufr? What are the repercussions about palestine, Israel, Afghanistan and the states which got independence from the Ottoman Empire? 14. Is making peace with Israel allowed? 15. Is it haram to vote for a non-muslim candidate? 16. How long the effect of the constitutional arrangment of the Prophet lasted after him? XIII. Judiciary and Courts in Islam : 1. Is a muslim permitted to appeal to a totally non-muslim judge or court for a personal or family code of transactions etc.? Does a non-muslim court have the competence and capacity ( walayah ) to be involved in solving conflicts among Muslims, or even if one party is Muslim? 2. Is a muslim obliged to find a Muslim faqih or alim and get his opinion about a conflict and accept it as verdict and apply it on himself willingly? 3. Is it permissible for a muslim to sit in a jury in a court of law? XIV. Islamic Medicine : 1. Is curing and taking care of AIDS patients, homosexuals, heterosexuals and lesbians allowed for a Muslim physician? 2. Can a muslim working in a restaurant take the left over food with some alcohol and pig materials in them and bring them to the Christian homeless shelters? 3. Is removing life support devices and instruments from a patient allowed in Islam? 4. Can a Muslim student attend or participate in a disection process of an animal ( pig, frog etc.)? 5. Is autopsy of a dead body jaiz? Can a non-muslim physician make autopsy on the body of a Muslim, especially if it is female? 6. Is it allowed to impregnate the wife and use the fetal tissue for curing some desease? 7. Is it allowed in Islam to make models of living cretures from mud? 8. Is it allowed to disect a frog or any other animal in anatomy of physiology? 9. Is circumcision manadatory in Islam? 10. Some people oppose to male students' study of some topics like woman body etc. in medical school.What do you say? 11. Some people wipe tehir eye durimg iqamah before prayer. Is it sunnah? XV. Iman and Belief : 1. What are the attributes of Allah: 2. What is the meaning of prophethood and messengerhood in Islam? 3. What is resurrection in Islam. 4. Is the Qur'an created? 5. Is putting up Christmas trees allowed in American Muslim homes? 6. What is the law regarding the baptising a baby born to a Muslim father and Christian mother? 7. What are differences between kafir and mushrik in the Qur'an and are the Christians also kafirs? 8. What is the Islamic view of reciting Qur'an and du'as for deceased persons? What do you say about Qur'an-khani? 9. What about witchcraft ( sihr) in Islam? 10. Is there exorcism in Islam ( Tilsim types ) and others.? 11. Is tawiz, muskha in Turkish acceptable in Islam? Does it work? 12. Is there something to be posseed by demons or haunted homes et. in Islam? 13. If muslims are in a meeting and funeral of a non-Muslim and audience have been invited into the silence prayer, what muslims should do? 14. Can a Muslim or imam stand in the main sanctuary of a synagogue or church with a priest or rabbi, and pray for the people past or killed in a war? What should the Muslim do in this type of situation? 15. Do good Christians, jews and others enter paradise? 16. Was Prophet Isa lifted up with his body alive? 17. Which one of the sons of Abraham,Ismail or Ishaq, was offered for sacrifice? 18. "My christian brother died. He was very sympathatic for me being a muslim. How can I pray for him?" 19. What is the correct view about the coming of Jesus Christ? 20. What is the real concept of Mahdism in Islam? 21. What language will Jesus Christ speak after his advent? 22. Is it allowed to omit the name of Prophet Muhammad and some other expression in an interfaith prayer made by a muslim? 23. Was there one adam? What about adam of Jinns? Can Muhammad be adam of Bazm--i Alast? 24. Is it any thing wrong to address the Propeht as " Ya!" or "..ka" or "anta"? 25. Will non-muslims, including christians and jews, enter paradise? 26. A christian says " I am muslim christian", another ona adds "I am onw day christian, one day muslim". These are pronounced aafter a lecture of universality of Islam is given. What is your comment? 27. What was the race of Jesus Christ? Could he be Afro-American? 28. When will Jesus Christ come, before or after Mahdi's advent? 29. Will jinns go to the same paradise or hell with the human beings? 30. "I have made nadhr (vow) that if I retain my health I will give $ 50 sadaqah to masjid. May I give it for membership fee?" 31. Is it true that a good muslim will be shown a shabih of the prohet Muhammad when he is questioned by angels in the grave? 32. What the names of gates of hell as opposed to the gates of paradise? 33. What is the judgement about the hindu-born and lived person? Is he eligible to go to pradise? 34. Whan I am sleeping I sometimes feel someone is grabing and strangling me? What is this? 35. A person died and was not washed yet. Is it jaiz to say fatiha for him? 36. Is there any evolution in sharia from the time of Adam? Does Allah change his words? 37. Can we say "radiy Allahu anh" after the name of Mu`awiyah? 38. Is it jaiz to walk for justice on Good Friday with pastors? 39. My non-muslim friend is in hospital. e asked me to pray for him. What can I read as prayer? 40. Are durzis and nusairisw muslim? 41. What happeins to two angels in charge of recording the deeds of a person when he dies? Do they attend the funeral prayer too? 42, What are the meanings of "ruh" and "nafs" in Islam? what the differences between the two? 43. Is it jaiz to bow when doing jarate? 44. Isit jaiz to have relation with a brother who christian and gay? 45. Did jinns have a defferent prophet for their own at leas before Muhammad? What is the meaning of "rusulun minkum" (surah al-An`am, verse 130)? 46. Who was sacrificed Ismail or Ishaq? Do you agree with Mawdudi in this regard? 47. Is the number of years which "ashab al-kahf" waited, known, since Allah says "Allahu a`lamu bima-labithu"? 48. What are "alamin" of "rahmatan lil-`alamin" in modern terms? 49. I am giving money for my dead father each month to the mosque. My mother is alive. Can I give for her too? XVI. Ethics : 1. Can a Muslim say salam to a non-muslim? 2. Can a muslim be friendly with the people who are involved in injustice? 3. Can a Muslim attend the celebrations of Christmas or Thanks-giving? 4. What are the rules related to the moustache and beard in Islam? 5. What are the forms and styles of beard and moustach in Islam? 6. If some body is backbitten in one's presence, or gossipped about where we are, what a Muslim should do? 7. What is the rule with regard to giving salam in bathroom? 8. Is it sunnah to visit graveyards at the night of the middle of Sha`ban (Sab-i Baraat)? 9. Can muslims visit non-muslim cemetery? 10. Is it agains the dress code of Islam to shave whole head by men? 11. Can one use the scissor or razor to remove the hairs of private parts? What tools did the Prophet use? 12. If we sneeze when we are reading Qur'an, what must we do? If another person sneezes when we are reading it, are we supposed to say blessings of Allah on him? 13. " I studied medicine in pakistan. Now I am in this here working in laundry. Is there any sin in hangin here, not utilyzing the knowledge I gained there and not serving to my country men there?" 14. Were there some special and organized tabligh and dawa mission during the time of the Prophet? 15. I am a new muslim. Is it halal to serve my parents when they ask me meat of the pig? 16. Is it mandatory to say salam to a person who deals with interest and banking? 17. WEhen one is shaking the hands of the people, whose right, his or the others, he is supposed to follow? 18. The5e are manyy immigrants here from my country who came from south part. I am from North. Is it jaiz for me to say that I am from southg too? 19. Did any shabi keep a dog? XVII. Schools of Thought : 1. What are the authority of madhabs in Islam? 2. Are their rules in any way binding? 3. How do you explain the view that some of the imams of madhhabs were not faqih, some of them were not muhaddith and some were not mafassir, still they are regarded as parfect imams? XVIII. Qira'ah and Tajwid : 1. What is the hukm of qiraah of Qur'an in Arabic? 2. Is tajwid necessary to be observed? 3. Is wudu necessary in reciting or touching the Qur'an? 4. "I am runnig a restaurant and listening recitation of Qur'an. But neantime I need to speak? Which one is better to leave tape running or turn it off and not to listen to it?" 5. " I want to have flyers with basmalah and ayahs. Presumably printers are not clean. They are non-muslims. Is it allowed to let them print it?" 6. What are the meanings of rumuz in Qur'an? 7. Are there different ways of recitation of Qur'an? 8. can one make sajdah of tlawah facing to the direction other than qiblah? 9. What is the hukm of approaching to some one and shaking the hands when is reading Qur'an? 10. What the hukm and arguments about the recitation of three surahs of al-Ikhlas and one al-fatiha? 11. Is it allowed to use a glue of which fat of pig is ingredient to repair the cover of the Qur'an? 12. What do you say about sendind eid cards on which verses from Qur'an are written by the post? 13. Is reading translation of Qur'an rewarded and is recitation of Qur'an without understanding rewardable too? 14. How can I know abrogated ayahs in Qur'an? 15. Is recitation of al-fatiha at the end of Qur`an recitation sunnah? 16. A christian woman died. She has a muslim girl from previos marriage to a muslim man. can some muslim friend read Qur'an for her to comfort the muslim daughter? 17. In jordan people read all together Surah al-Qlam in the home of a decedent. Then they say three times "subhana allahi wal hamdu lillahi wa l ilaha illa Allahu wallahu Akbar.." instead performing sajda tilawah. Do you comment on it? XIX. Islamic History: 1. Did Jesus Christ have a brother? 2. Were the deciples of Jesus Christ real muslims? 3. Did Mary marry and had children? Fiqhi Analyses of the Problems, Comments and Suggestions to Solutions and Shar`i Opinions I S S U E S A N D P R O B L E M S I. Taharah ( Islamic Purification ): 1. Is it necessary to be cleansed and purified by water? Case: We are living in modern world and have lot of liquids and perhaps more medically desenfectant than muslims have had during the early years of Islam. So can we not use other liquids to purify ourselves for ablution instead sticking to the water which is just a regular liquid? Analysis of the case: This problem is a part moslim retual fixed in the Qur'an and practised by the Prohphet Muhammd and by his Companions in his presence. The follwers also kept doing it down to our days. This is a tradition which is really a part of other practices. The Qura'an describes the ablution ( wudu I in the verse 6 of the Surah al-Maidah ( 5th Surah ) as follws: " O you who belive! When you prepare for prayer ( salah ),wash your faces and hands and arms to the elbows; rub your heads with water and wash your feet to the ankles. " There are also hadiths and reports of from the Prophet in this regard. Discussion: The arabic word for washing here is " Ghasl " which always has a tight relation to the water. So water is a must material in ablution. Washing with other things will take the text of the Qur'an out of its literal meaning which is not permissible with no justification, as it is explained in the Methodology of Fiqh ( Usul al-Fiqh ). The fiqh literature defrines water with its three natural qualities:colour, taste and fliuidiy. and laccking the majority of these qualities lead the fluid become out of the realm of being water. Further more we are dealing with a religious ritual and cleannes and purification. Medical cleannes and chemical and Physical purity may not always be eqalized to the religious one. The fields are so much different one another. There is no difference between the natural waters and the water distelled and processed under modern techniques, as long as the three qualities are met in the liquid. Suggestion : It is not acceptable to wash or wife the necessary organs with anything other than water when one is getting ablution. Sources : The qur'anic verse cited above, hadith literature and practices of the Prophet. The first chapters of all Fiqh books, irrespective to the schools of thought. 2. Is it good to have istibra and istinja after using the bathroom? Case : The cleannes is very important in Islam. After urinating or discharging one needs to take of cleaning oneslef properly as it is described in Fiqh books to be sure that no more filthy material is there on the body or cloth. If there is any, exceeding an amount more than one and half quarter (of a dollar) that is an impediment to establish the prayer (salah). Analysis: Istibra means cleaning the remaining parts of urine after urinating and Istinja means clean ing the excrete after the human discharge. Human body does not release everything easily and at ones. So it may take a little time, sometimes hours, to get the end of both dicsharges. It depends on the nature of each individual. Women have different attitudes than the men. Their prtegnacies and giving birth may let them be away from sensitive drippings of urines. So cleaning them up properly and observing the habits the body used to have is necessary for practical reasons. Discussion: Arguments: Sharia says cleanlines is a requirement for establishing prayers. Tharah from any filthy and impure thing are mandatory for an Islamic cleannes. Eliminating that type of stuff prom the body and place of prayer is a must. That needs a special attention to take the matter seriously and clean whatever may come out after the discharge or urinating. In tradiditonal sense the people used to jump up, or walk, or cough or even to lie down a little while to allow the body release what might remain inside. Every person has to find out a mtehod suitable to his/her body after the usage of bathroom. The splashes and spills of the urine are always shown as the causes of the punishments in graves. Suggestion : It is incumbent on each muslim to take care of the cleannlines in a proper way and leave any doubt for the remanant of either of the two wastes to come out while individual is not aware of it. Sources: First chapters of all fiqh literature. 3. What is the procedure of tayammum? Case : Tayammum is an act substitue the ablution in case ablution is not possible because of lack of wayter or physical ability.It is a symbolic way of cleaning ourselves spiritually to prapare for salah. Water does not exist here in this process. Analysis: Since Islam is way of life, it did not leave any gap where there is no ablution, or its substitute for prayer. Tyammum is done for wudu on a clean soil (dust) by fulfilling two requirements: a. Wiping the face with the hands wiped first with dust, and b. wiping the hands (arms) in the same way. Here intention is essential part of the act, since that is the component which makes the deed "islamic worship". Discussion: Arguments: Tyammum is based on a part of the verse 6 of Surah al-Ma`idah. It runs as follows: "If you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes from offices of nature, or you have been in contact with women,and you find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands." All elements are clearly expressed in this part of the verse. We must remember that the previous part of it is the description of ablution and and wudu. So the whole verse is confined to one content. That islamic purity which necessary before the paryers and others. Suggestion: Since the revelation is the source of our religion, there nothing wrong to have a very strong belief and understanding about the validity of tayammum and its necessity for the prayer. Source: The verse cited before, the chapters of tayammum in the fiqh literture. 4. Is wiping or over the socks or shoes permitted during wudu? Case: As we know wiping (mash) on the khuff (special shoewear) is mentioned in hadith and in all fiqh literature. It is reported that it was practised by the Prophet and also by his Companions during his time. There are some practices of wiping on the regular socks and soes by the muslims of modern days. So it is good to discuss this problem in the view of the data available to day. Analysis: The hadith mentions the word "khuff". That is described and defined in fiqh litarature as mainly having following qualities: a. The material must a solid one, so much so that it may stand without collapsing when it stand being not worn. b. the texture has tobe so tight as no water may enter or easily absorbed when it is put into the water. c. It must be worn on wudu where the feet washed properly by water and it must be also tightly worn and tied to the legs. And d. the khuff must cover the whole parts of the feet down from ankles (including) with no holes or tears in both of them bigger than three fingers. Discussion: I donot contently think that the sock and shoes of modern days comply necessarily to the rules expounded above, in one way or another. Socks are not as solid and tight as the whould be and shoes are nor coverring the ankles as they have to, according to the definition given above. Arguments: The fiqh vision is a;ways to be taken into consideration and schools of thought in Islamic law are to be carefully followed by any modern interpreter. A little good conservative attitudes will keep us following our forefather and fuqaha of early days, as long as there is no real necessity and license to deviate away from traditional understanding. Of course military boots and other strong and tight boots may easily fulfill the above conditions and wiping can be done over them, given other requirements are met. Suggestion: Wiping on socks and shoes are not favorably good and bou the boots may be qulified as the khuff with no extra difficulties. Sources: Bening aware of what Sayyid Sabiq said in Fiqh al-Sunnah, I would like to refer the reader to the chapters on "khuff" in the early sources of Fiqh Literature. 5. Does touching the dog breaks ablution? Case : There are different practices among muslims here in this country regarding the the dogs. Some of them donot care too much about them. Some of them are very sensitive in that regard. Analysis: The practices differ because of the percetion about dogs and understandings of hadithes in that regard. Some of them go literal meaning, some not. Thic country is very much in favor of dogs. The dogs here are to many types. Some of them are bread artifiacilly and they have characteristics different than narural dogs known in the early days of Islam. Some of the dogs are just pets to be enjoyed in the limited space of home or garden. Some of the brands of pet dogs are almost exectly the same with cats in size and character. Discussion:Hanafites and malikites accept dogs as clean and pure (tahir). They donat admit the dogs as impure and najis. Both of the madhabs make ecxeption the salivas of the dogs. They accept the saliva as filthy. Arguments: Each school has its own arguments, based on the special logic of understanding it is attached to. Suggestion: According to some schools of thought dog is clen. and touching it does not lead to the breakage of the ablution. Some others have just opposite view. So both ways are islamically practicable. Sources: The related chapters in Fiqh literature. 6. Does touching woman annuls wudu? Case: Women are adresses of Allah. They also pray and practise Islam along with men. Touching them by a men is narural type of relation as long as it is in the limits of Islam. But some practices of muslim are in a way that they believ the touching to the women breaks the ablution. Discussion: The problem stems from the meaning of the word "lamastumu 'n-nisa'a" mentioned in the Qur'an, (al-Ma'dah, verse 6) whether that means just literally "touhing the women" or allegorically expressed as "having conjugal relation with them". This type of discussion and debate is very widely experienced in the lines of Comperative Islamic Law literature. Arguments: The word "lamastum" is used in both of the context in Islamic literature. And the words donot always connote the literal meanings. Allegery and symbolosim are very well established ways and means of expresion in Arabic, language of Qur'an and hadith. Suggestion: To hanafites touching a woman is not consedered as breaker of the ablution. But Shafites think globally other way around. These re based on the following literal or allegorical menaings of the same text. Sources: The berakers of ablution chapters in Fiqh Literature with further reference to the Tafsir of al-Qurtubi, the related commentary to the effect of the verse cited above. 7. Does a fixture fixed by a dentist in the mouth impedes the ablution and ghusl status? 8. If a painter has some remnants from the paints on his hand, can he get wudu without removing it? 9. Is it necessary to take shower after washing the dead body? 10. Can a woman make mash on whig? 11. Is takanig wudu or the shower necessary for a muslim woman after being examined with hand thru her vagina? 12. has a person to wash the cloth where the dry diaper of a child touched? 13. "I have a medically prescribed strong socks on my feet and normal socks at the topr of them. Can I make mash on outer socks?" II. Salah ( Prayer ): 1. How many rak'ahs are required in witr and how to pray? Case: The witr is a prayer which observed after Isha prayer. It is practised as one rak`'ah and three rak'ahs, pursuant the school of thought followed by the individual. Analysis: Discussion: This a form of slah.Salah as a total is thespecial acts and forms established by the muslim. Those acts and attitudes all were practised by the Prophet in public and transfered from one to another generation with uncountable members of the muslims. The always was so high that no human mind can think about the agreement of all of them in lying. Witr also a part of this process. Arguments: According to some madhhabs one rak'ah is good enough, and according to others three rak'ahs are fine. But all of them mus be in odd numbers, not even numbers, as the word witr (odd number) suggests. Suggestion: One may pray according to his adherence to sunnah and also according to his perception of following one of the schools of thought of Islamic Law. 2. What is the nature and hukm of Jum'ah prayer in Muslim and non-muslim country? Case : Jum`ah is a cammmunity prayer, in another words, it is the sign of the organized state of community of muslims. It represents the independece of Islam and muslims in a locality. The highest form of this independence is for sure a real muslim state. Analysis: Jum`ah means community,all together, gathering. The prayer has to be done togather. For this reason, there are some conditions to be met mainly in a muslim community, where freredom is enjoyed, independence is there, leadership is aggreed upon, an appointed or elercted imam, leader, is there. Discussion: If the conditions are met then Jum`ah is to be established in that locality, preferably in one place in a city. And the leader of the prayer will be either the leader of muslim community,(head of state or caliph) or his duly designated representative. Arguments: If a state really an Islamic state from a to z, the establishment of Jum`ah prayer is really fine. But if the state is not qualified, or even rejects the following of Islam in its dealings, then the jum`ah prayer really gets a vague paosition. Sma situation is there fgor muslims living in a non-Muslim state. The muslims in non-Muslim state may have some commitments which really takes them away from completely applying Islam in their lives or they may not think establishing a state type of jum`ah prayer. In hese cases the prayers observed as jum`ah may be debatable whether thay are really Jum`ah prayers. What we were saying all are related to the two-rak`ahs fard prayers. We are not speaking about the sunnahs and naf types of prayers established before or after the Jum'ah's fard prayer. Further more even if there is some possiblity of establising Juma`hs in the worse conditions, one must forget that, there opinions about invalidity of establishing jum'ah prayers in one city in more than one center. Even in this issue one may say that the one who begins first the prayer by first takbir will be acceptable, and the other centers and their prayers are likely to be nafl. Suggestion: Muslims need to be organized in highest possible way as independent and self-sufficient Community in non-Muslim countries and have resolved to apply Islamic Law at its highest level wllingly and intentionally. So this may give them a sense and colour of Islamic Community, at in evelotion, and the prayers of Jum'ahs are to be held in big centers as much as possble, trying to eliminate the smal centers and focus on centralizing the the Jum`ah prayers and other repercussions of the being one Muslim community under one Sharia and one leadership. If every one does what ever is possible to his best, then Allah maybe forgives the shortcomings one may encounter in His sake. Perhaps one may adopt a way of praying the zuhr of the day under the name of Zuhr Akhir as it is done in some muslim countries, thinking that the Jum`ah did not meet the requirements and in that case it was not established in duly manner, and the Zuhr of that day is still pending as fard duty, and the person prays individually Zuhr Akhir hoping that that may substitute the unacceptable Jum`ah. Source:al- Ahkam al-Sultaniyya by al-Mawardi, the chapters of Jum`ah prayers in Fiqh Literature. 3. Can a busy muslim pray while standing or sitting only? Case: In modern world people are very busy. They donat have enough time to properly observe the prayers. They may be driving, walking, running etc. So can one adjust salah to these circumstances? Analysis: The prayers are fixed by the practices of the Prophet Muhammad,pbuh. The conditions may differ, but the prayers are mainly to stay as they are. This the principle. In its conditions one may recognize the exceptions and flexibilities. Those re of course authorized excuses. For example if the person is sick, unable to stand up, or bound to bed etc. Discussion: Being busy is a modern term. It may comprise any type of relaxedbusiness and occupation as well as being busy in emergewncy and urgent level.So we are supposing here a regular type a business is the subject. No major force is involved, no acts beyong the choice and will of an individual are targetted. Arguments: So we need to take into consideration all the possibilities one may encounter in a little extra circumstances, exeeding the regular level to the exusable stage. Suggestion: In regular sense of busines, no one is excused to establish the fard prayers not observing the full standing, bowing, prostration, recitation etc. The person must stop driving the car, get ablution, if he does not have any, then pray standing, bowing ands prostrating and sitting etc. Only in case of necessities and no alternative case one may do his best in observing the most possible one ones. Sources: The related verses of Qur'an, the chapters on excuses in prayers at the fiqh literature. 4. Salah al-janazah : How to wash the body and pray for? Case: The body of a deceased muslim has to be washed as alast duty of the community towards him or her and needs to be prayed for in a special way. That is a kind of funeral rites and ceremonies the non-Muslims have in their religions. No burning the body or disposing in other ways in a normal condition. Analysis: The islamic funeral rites and ceremonies reflect the whole Islamic system. Brotherhood and togetherness are always encouraged here in the last moment as well. As a comminity duty one needs to take care of the mbody by washing and prayeing and burying it properly. Discussion: Washing will be done as regular way of washing the body. Private parts will be cleaned first,lest some discharges may be there, then the whole body is to be washed by clean water and soap if possible. The washing will be done by males to males and females to females. And muslims must take care of muslims. The dead bodies of muslims are not to be left in the hands of non-Muslims. The relatives of the deceased have to take care of everything, if there is no arrangements in community level. Special prayer is to be established as it is well practised by the Muslims. Arguments: There are some details and differing view regarding the washing the body, the prayer and the burial procedures, all being the reflection of different schools of thoughts and practices adopted by the Muslims in the course of History. Suggestion: The body has to be washed, a special prayer is to be held for the deceased, except in very rare cases ( the martyr in an Islamic war) asnd then the body is to be burried in a grave. No cremation, no burning the body. Just putting in the grave and leaving it to rest in it. 5. What can a muslim do for his non-muslim relative in the funeral service? Case: In a non-Muslim country and even if one lives in a Muslim country, the person may have close relation with non-Muslim relatives. When death occurs the Muslim will have duties towards the relative. Analysis: Religion is different. The rules are also different. But still there are some duties which cannot be ignored by no one. This is the level we intend to be involved in. Discussion: There is a death. One needs to clear the situation. The relative is nearest person to be in charge of it. The community may be involved as long as it deems to it. The community are the collection of people. The people are the community. Arguments: There are varying levels od opinions regarding this point. But the core of the truth is that one has to do for immediate burial of the body. That is the point we are dealing with. Suggestion: The relative has to move a head and bury the body according the rites of the religion of the deceased. The muslim may ask just hidaya (guidance) for the deceased, trying not leaving indifferent and discreet position towards the dead, lest it may hurt his adherence to the Islam and go against the respect and reverence he has to show to his own religion. Sources: The verses related to this effect in Qur'an. 6. If a non-muslim lady dies, what should muslims do? Case : In general pespective of the previous paragraph, a non-Muslim lady may die, and her body may need to be disposed. Analysis: Her being lady gives an extra importance to the problem, since her body is haram totally to be seen and touched by male Muslims. Discussion: The same dilemma of differences of views are the subject here as we have in any death of any non-Muslim. The job must be done immediately, since the body has to be taken care of as early as possible. Arguments: Her religion and the religion of the nearest relative are different. The rites are also different. But the job is one. That is taking care of the body. Suggestion: A muslim lady must take care of the body in its minimum level of non-Islamic conditions and then the body has to be buried with no dua and recitation of Qur'an, lest the concept of belief may be hurt by any reverence to the body. Source: 7. Tarawih prayer, number of rak'ahs and recitation of Qur'an inside the prayer. Case: People have different practices and concept of tarawih. Some stick to so many rak`ahs tarawih and fight for that and hurt others in that cause. Analysis: Tarawih is not different than any other salahs. It is also established based on the revelation and practices of the Prophet. So what is fixed by the Prophet is the most important to us. Discussion: The matter is how to know what it is the Prophet did in this regard and what is our authority of interpreting it and properly. Arguments: Some say the Prophet prayed eight rak`ahs tarawih, some is of the opinion that he has prayed twenty rak`ahs. Some go up fourty rak`ahs as well. Some say that the whole Qur'an is to be recited in tarawihs in Ramadan. Suggestion: The minimun tarawih is eightand the maximum may go up to fourty. It is not very easily proven that the Propeht himself prayed twenty or this much rak`ahs in his life. It is well known that it is Umar. the second caliph, who prayed twenty rak`ahs and regularized the whole process oftarawih prayers in congregation all the nights of ramadan. The same view about the recitaion of whole Qur'an in trawih prayers. It is hard to argue that it was practised by the Prophet himself, since he did not pray twenty rak`ahs trawih consistently in any whole ramadan (29 or 30 nights). His recitation the Quran during ramadans are not reported done in tarawih prayers. Sources:Nail al-Awtar by al-Shawkani; Fiqh al-Sunnah by Sayyid Sabiq; al-Fiq ala 'l-Madahib al-Arba`ah by al-Jaziri. 8. Is the prayer valid while the hair of a woman or her belly is uncovered or not scrupoluosly covered? Case: The Muslim sisters have different attitudes and varying dresses coming from their culture. That is seen in their prayers. Some are not so sensitive in covering totally and keeping the cover all the way down in their prayers. Analysis: This is a part of understanding and a consequence of the concept of hijab. But it shows itself up vividly when one is praying. Discussion: Covering the whole body by a Muslim woman is a must, her face, hands and feet are limitedly exceptions. The verses related to this injuction are mainly two: a. verse 31 of the Surah al-Nur, and b. verse 59 of the Surah al-Ahzab. Arguments: If the previously mentioned verses are scholarly studied, one may easily come to the conclusion that covering the whole body by a muslim sister is rellay a must in prayer and outside the prayer. The parctices of the sisters during thew time of the Prophet were also in the same line after the revelation of this particular injunction. Suggestion: The whole body with the exceptions pointed out above has to be properly covered by a sister. TBeyond this, nothing including the belly and other parts are not exempted from the rule. The prayers in which the ruling of hijab was not duly observed, cannot be defined as acceptable. Sources: In addition to what have been cited above one may note don the following: nail al-Awtar by al-Shawkani. 9. Is permissible that the prayer be lead by a fasiq? Case: Some imams are not very much observant of Islam in proper ways. Attendin congregational prayer is good. But what if imam is not very good? Analysis: Imams are human beings too. They are not angels. They may have faults and mistakes. Actually imams reflect the society. They are product and members of the society, where they serve to. Discussion: The Propeh said "you pray after the reightous and mischievous (fajir) imams." That is the injunction given by him. The imams may not be always the best ones in the Community. Arguments: The qualities of imam are described in the Fiqh Literature. Who comes first? There is a list of priorities ranking from the top down to lowest level. Recitation of qur'an, knowledge, reightous life, even being married are included in that list. Suggestion: One needs to pray after imam as long as he is not sure that his ablution is not there. If he knows for sure that the imam has no wudu (ablution), I think, he may smartly avoid following him in his prayer without causing any commotion or mischief. lt us not forget imam is representing ting the identity of th Muslim Community. Even one may think he is the sole representative of khilafah in a non-Muslim country. Breaking away form imam and dissenting may mean a negative position to the integrity of the Muslim Ummah in that specific locality. One needs to be very careful in not adding to the tension, already existing, there in that community. Sources: The chapters on Imamah in Fiqh Literature. 10. What is the meaning of the raising of the finger when one sits in the last sitting of the prayer? Case: One may witness easily in a Muslim Community comprised from different cultural backgrounds and schools of thought the differences of practices in prayers. The problem of raisingthe finger while last sitting in the salah. Analysis: This act is an optional component in the salah process. That to is to be based on the tradition of the Prophet, pbuh. Discussion: Different schools of thought in Islam has different approaches to the this issue with different connotations etc. Some say it is good to shake at random or in circular way the index finger of the right hand while sitting, some are of the opinion that the finger must be raised punctually when "la" is pronounced and it is to be returned back to its normao position when the pronunciation of "illa" promptly ends. Some others have a little detailed variants in this regard. Arguments: The Comperative Studies in Islamic Law have a good deal of argumants and pros and cons on this subject. We may not have enough patience and perseverance to bear those debates here in this point. Suggestion: Humble suggestion to the problem here in this regard is to have a tolerance of different practices followed by each individual as lond as they fall in the realm of broadly understandable tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, and not to raise any flame of apathy, hate, or annoyance against any Muslim who is attending the mosque. Sources: Fiqh Literature. 11. What is the rule in following the acts of an imam in prayer? Is it necessary to follow him immediately after he entered in doing the act? Case: How to follow imam is a problem in multi-cultural Muslim Community. It has practical variants and repercussions on the members of the congregation. Analysis: The different schools of thought and their application affect on this point. Some wait untril imam goes through to the act, some immediately follow imam step by step. Some time it may look rediculous the brothers and sisters sitting shoulder to shoulder having different conflicting type of acts in their prayers. Discussion: Once again we are to stress that this religion. That was the practices came down to our days. And The scholars debated alot in their books pros and cons of each one of the issue, including the one we are discussing. They have different approaches and understandings as traditionally reported from the Prophet Muhammad, pbuh. Arguments: The following of imam is a must. No body may begin the acts before imam. That is unanimously aggreed upon. But doing the act almost simultaneously or after it is completed by imam is a point of difference in Islamic law. Suggestion: Not interfering any one and gettin more and more information about fiqh and especially about the Comperative Fiqh Studies are very important and even in crucial points incumbant and mandatory, whch neglecting thereof may lead to neglecting a fard duty. Sources: al-Fiqh ala 'l-Madhahib al-Arba`ah by al-Jaziri. 12. Is tahiyyat al-masjid prayer deemed to be observed while imam is on minbar at Friday prayer? Case: Tahiyyat al-masjid is a prayer of "greeting the mosque" while was entered first.It is nafl (optional) prayer. Analysis: When imam is on minbar for friday sermon, it is commanded that, he must be listened to and nothing distracting from this job is allowed. Yet the the command of observing tahiyyat al-masjid stil stands or not? This is the point to be cleared. Discussion: The two commands of the traditon, observing the tahiyyat al-masjid prayer and not doing anything, but listening to the khatib, are standing and a conflict of hadiths is there. One needs to eliminate this conflict. If some one comes before the imam stands on minbar and prays tahiyyat al-masjid, then there will be no problem of conflicts. But if the situation is just opposite, and a late commer wants to establish it, it has a risk of violating the second command, which is listening to the sermon only. Arguments: Different views of the schools of thought are effective here in this regard as well. The sources give really a detailed explanation to this point. One may refer to the sources available. Suggestion: One may follow the practices of the imam he is following or tolarate to whatever others are doing. The ephasis has to be given to educate the people in the Comperative law Studies in Islam. Sources: al-Fiqh ala l'l-Madhahib al-Arba`ah by al-Jaziri. 13. Whencan one shortenthe prayer and what are the rulestobe followed? Case: When to pray short form of prayers and perhaps also to be excused from fasting and even perom the observance of Jum`ah prayers mandatorily. Analysis: Thatisthe problem called qasr al-salah in itsproper terminology. That means praying two rak`ahs where one prays four rak`ahs. Discussion: We need to follow the practices of the Prophet,pbuh under the authority of Qur'anic injunctions,related to the subjec. The form and format of the prayer are fixed by Allah through his Prophet Muhammad,pbuh. It is true that old methods of traveling were almost totally different than the modern ones. Modern ones are very comfortable and takes a very short time to go whatever distance we want to go compared with the paralell in the early days of Islam. Arguments: Are we supposed to keep on observing the same way as the Prophet used to do? Do these differences affect widely to the essence of the format of the salah? and change their nature from shot into full prayer? Generally speaking almost all schools of thought in Islamic Law are nearly of the same opinion of following the traditional criteria and shorten the prayers even if thge journey is so comfortable today. Suggeston: Our suggstion is to continue on observing the short form of prayers and also to benefit from the excuses of fasting during the journey. Sources: al-Fiqh ala 'l-Madhahib al-arba`ah by al-Jaziri. 14. Is the prayer allowed with shirts on which some figures are painted or sentences are written? Case: Some shirts and pants etc. have sentences and figures which may not be so proper in Islam. To what estent are Muslims allowed to praye in those clothes or dresses? Analysis: The modern way of propogation is so much developed and complexed that any type of anti-traditional sentence may be written on the shirts. The advertisement techniques are very compound and interrelated with many fields and practised in a very wide area of interest with very rich forms and manners. Discussion: Islam has its rules to always counted on. The same situation works here. Not all forms of shirts with their scripts are welcomed. This may be a genmaral principle one may say. Arguments: Since Islam has its own code of dress and manners and its philosophy has to be dominant on each part and patsel of its activities, here too the point must not be missed. Suggestion: The best way to avoid wearing on the shirts with slogans and figures anti-Iswlamic and pro-paganist ot pro-non-Islamic in nature during the prayer at least. The severity of the text may exeed the limits and even the person may be in the brink of being renegade, God forbid. Sources: Hisbah Literature of Islam, the Hisbah chapter of al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah by al-Mawardi. 15. Can a woman lead the prayer? Case: A woman who is knowledgable enough may wish to lead the prayer among women. She may wamt to be imam fgor prayer. Analysis: Leading the prayer is a matter of congregational prayer. Some times there may not be any man who will lead the women folk. Enjoying the advantages of the congregational prayer is so much high that no one take the neglection of that part. Discussion:But in its traditonal concept imamah is a job of male and it reflects the the power of Muslim State under one leadership of applying Islam. Arguments: Some of the schools of thought are in favour of the possibility of praying under woman imam,given the followers are all women and some others are of the opinion that that is not recommended or it is disliked (makruh). But still the prayer observed in this way is valid in its fiqh terms. Suggestion: The prayer lead by a woman to the women folk only are not haram and forbidden in Islam and the person may join to them even if it is against her madhhabs's view. She will be rewarded according to the intention and submission she has in her heart. Sources: al-Fiqh ala 'l-Madhahib al-Arba`ah by al-Jaziri. 16. What are differences of prayers of female and male muslims? 17. What are the times of the prayers here in U.S.A ? 18. What is the direction of Qiblah here in U.S.A.? Case: How are we imaginig the the direction of Qiblah from the continent and locality we are living in? When we move do we change the direction? Analysis: The problem is important. It is related with glob of the world. And it is very tightly related to the concept and vision of the mapping of the world. Discussion: The globe has ups and downs. It is not just a plain surface. At the same time the globe is moving and any local point may be perciev either on a surace or or a globe. The dimensions may very according to the techniques of mapping. Arguments: Allah says "direct your face to the direction (shatr) of Masjid al-Haram" in more than one places (verses 144, 149 and 150, Surah al-baqarah). But how to interprete thgis verses. We must stick to the Prophet's practices. Suggestion: Turning simply to the direction of the Qibla which in the Masjid al-haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabi is sufficient without going into the details, since we muslims are not yet equipped to use very modern tools and sciences in the service of Islam and we also have no specialists working in this are at this moment. Sources: The above mentoned verses of Qur'an, Cooments of al-Qurtubi and al-Razi in their voluminous tafsirs on the subject. 19. If one is late in joining the tarawih jama'ah and he does not figureout whether the prayer is isha or tarawih, howishe going tointendandwhatis going to do if hediscovers justthe opposite? 20. What are the exact time of maghreb and morning prayers? 21. Can a non-muslim attend the muslim services ( salah )? Case: Some times non-Muslims intend to attend the Muslim services (prayers). There may be different motives for that. The rationale may rank from the good ones up to bad ones. Analysis: Islam with all its institutes is openn to every one. It is a universal religion. To be open to every one necessitates the non-ristrictive rules concerning the access to it by any one who is interested. The beginning of Islam spread like that with easy accesibility of the people to it. The inflience and recognition may evolve from opennes, easy acces and with r4he help of good public relation. Discussion: Islam did not ristrict itself to one locality or one tribe. Every body is inbvited to join. For that it needs to be known. That is the method that ensures its spread and gain acceptance in a new area. Arguments: No lomits are easily remembered in this point. Of course the dignity of Islam and its purety has always to be kept intact. No excuse can be acceptable concerning the Islamic credo and mandatory injunctions and also strictly forbidden prohibitions. All other grey areas have to be kept open to every body. Suggestion: All services of Islam, including the slah, are to be open to every one to watch, to recognbize and to learn. But the non-Muslim must not have the impression that Islam allows to meddle its identy with other religions. The identity of Islam has to be marked high and kept nicely at the peak of relation. Sources: Hisbah chapter in al_Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah by al-Mawardi, Nihayat al-Rutbah fi Talab al-Hisbah by al-Shaizari. 22. Why some muslims role up their pants when they pray? Is there any religious rule for that? Case : Some Muslim men roll up their pants when they pray. Some donot. Analysis: This is also a matter of understanding the psayings of the Prophet Muhammad, pbuh. Since the prayer has a code of manners and behavours, it is practised by some in the literal context. Discussion: There is a saying of the Prophet based in this regard. The context is that the one who leaves down his lower parts of the pant, his prayer is not acceptable. That is wtat it is. Arguments: Various schools od thoughts evolved different understanding which led into different practices. Some say that what is meant by that saying is intentional and solely concerns the arrogance, not just literal meaning of letting the lower parts of the cloths (pants) up. Suggestion: It is not incumbent, as some Muslims may thinh, to roll up the pants or to wear short pants as the ankles and feet be left uncovered. Looking at other muslims as the opponent of the practices of the Prophet and thinking that they have to be preached and corrected is not necessarily nice attidudes, not knowing the details given in Fiqh Literature. Sources: 23. How to pray eid prayers? How many takbirs? Case: Eid prayer is observed twice a year. One may forget the details. Analysis: Again the practices of the Prophet are the source. They are to be known and recognized. Discussion: Eid prayer is two rak`ahs with additional takbirs ranging from 9 upto 17 and being some of the schools practising the takbirs before the recitation of Surah al-Fatiha in the second rak`ahs. Arguments: Each school of thought has its owne evidences and preferences in the practices. Suggestion: Any authentic school of thought can be followed with reasonable rationale under the leadership of one imam. Imam's preference may be incumbant practically in terms of being "ulu 'l-amr". Sources: al-Jaziri, al-Fiqh ala 'l-madhahib al-Arba`ah. 24. Can late comers to congregation pray eid prayer in the same place? What are the requirements and procedures? Case: In big cities the traffic jam and job conditions affect on the the promptly attending the prayers in time. It is quite possible to be late in eid prayes. Analysis: latecomer may join imam either before the salam or he may come after the prayer is over. So we have two different situation. Discussion: The first situation is just joining to prayer which is already in proces. The second situation needs a seperate congregation, seperate imam and seperate jama`ah. Arguments: The first situation is just a logical extention of the prayer begun by the imam aqnd the latecomer will contntinue by himself to finish what he did not observe in company with imam. The second stuation has to be considered as independent congregation and needs imam and enough number of the followers. Suggestion: In the first situation the latecomer continues finishing the prayer by himself, as is, in regular prayers. In second situation the prayer will be established under one imam and prfermed with no sermon. Sources: al-Jaziri, al-Fiqh ala 'l-Madhahib al-Arba`ah,vol. I,pp. 25. Is prayer valid in shirts with short sleeves? Case: Prayer some times is prayed in shorts and other clothes and dresses which may have short sleeves. What is the necessary level of the rules to be observed? Analysis: There is code of dress for men and women tightlytobe observed in prayer. The individuals are to know and observe the mandatory level of rules prtaining to the code. Discussion: It is not illogic to have rules of dressing and religious attire with the boundaries flexible enough to accomodate the necassry excuses. Islam falls in this category. Arguments: Men and women have different status in this regard. Women are mnadatorily asked to have an attire covering the whole body except the face, hands and feet with varyying limitatations put by the diffrent schools of thought. For the women no practical facilitation of the shirt sleevs in normal condition. The determinig factor here is the awrah.The awrah om women is the whole body except the three organs pointed out above. Men are different. Their awrah part is the area between the navels and the knees. That part has to be covered mandatorily. Suggestion: A woman cannot pray in short sleeves in regular conditions and a man has may pray in shirt with short sleeves. The sensitivity shown in this regard is just cultural. It has nothing to do with the the religious enjunctions and authentic practices. No one can can finf in any book any requirement shown in this regard. Sources: 26. What is the travel distance nowadays to shorten the prayers? What is the process of shortening them when it is deemed? 27. If someone is late to jamaah in the morning, what is he going to do with the sunnah prayer? Does he need to pray sunnah first, then join the jamaah or he may pray it after the fardh prayer with imam is over? Case: The problem here is the necessity of sunnah prayer for morning and when to pray it? Analysis: Sunnah of fajr is attached to fard prayer. It is not a seperate prayer. Its attachment is evaluated in different way, some think it is so tight and some loose. Discussion: The previous concept affects the practicality. Whether congregational prayer may be preferred to it, is based on this belief. Arguments: There are two main opinions concerning this issue: a. Sunnah has to be prayed before or after the fardh, no other choice. And b. Sunnah may be prayed before the fardh prayer, it is a sunnah before the fardh only, not after it. Suggestion: According to first view it has to be prayed even after the fardh. In this casse the person joinsd tyo jamaah first,afteh he is through with imam, he prayes the sunnah. But to second view the latecomer, has to think first whether he may cath the jamaah or not. If he thinks that he will catch, he first prayes sunnah a little in hurry and then koin to the fardh in jamaah. Otherwise he immediately joins to imam and after he is through nmo sunnah is to be prayed. Sources: al-Jaziri, al-Fiqh ala 'l-Madhahib al-Arba`ah, vol. I, PP. 28. Are sunnah prayers to be observed when one is doing qasr when traveling? Case: The issue here is whether a Muslim is to pray sunnah when he is traveling in a definite distance. Analysis: As we know the fardh is made short when the person is traveling. But the sunnah is not declared any special status in this case. Discussion: There is no evidence of shortening the sunnah prayers when muslim is on journey. As a matter of fact the sunnah is conceived as the prayer of which may not be observed from time to time. That is aslso a part of sunnah concept. Arguments: Different opinions may be displayed here. They mainly focus on the necessity or unnecessity of sunnah prayers when the person is traveling. Suggestion: Since there is no prohibition in this regard, one may pray if he has time and will, though he shortened the fardh. Shortening the fardh may not necessarily affect to the sunnah practices. Sources: 29. How is the hukm of praying Jum'ahs in non-Muslim countries? Case: Jum`ah prayer is established in non-Muslim countries. But there are pros and cons about that. Analysis: Some of the conditions of Jum'ah are an imam, an authorized person to lead the prayer, freedom of applying Islam and live in it etc. Discussion: There are varrying opinions about the conditions of the jum`ah prayer. The number of jemaah rankink from three (even two) upto fourty person, freedom (physical type, but why not to include freedom of applying Islamic Law to every thing and living as Muslims in totality of Islam in terms of polotics, economics, social etc. Arguments: Many argyuments and reasoning are there in the literature concerning khilafah and imamah and allied subjects which are just allied topics sharing the same goals. Suggestion: It is better to establish the prayer of Jum`ah than not doing it at least as a precatious nesure. But that must lead to relaxation of not doing their best to establish the full fledged enviroment to accomodate all necessary requirements for the full Jum`ah. Sources: Al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah by al-Mawardi, al-Fiqh ala 'l-Madhahib al-Arba`ah, vol. I, pp. 30. Is khutbah of Jum'ah needed to be given in Arabic only? Case: Sermon (Khutbah) is a part of jum`ah prayer as it is well practised. can it be in any language other thnan Arabic? Analysis: Since sermon is prat of the prayer and the attendants has to literally listen to it, it can logically be given in one of the understandable language. Discussion: The prophet gave his sermons always in Arabic. But the listeners were not Arabs. I mean nothing is reported that there were people who didnot understand it. So the message was transfered through Arabic without mixing any foreign sentence to it. Arguments: The scholars of later periods all over the world didnot see any impediment in doing sermons in the local languages of the people conquered by Muslim armies. The practices were like this and it is like that today nearly everywhere. Suggestion: Giving sermons in the languages of people who are not Arabs is not totally wrong and rejected. On the contrary it may help to cammunicate better with the listeners and serve good for the understanding Islam. Of course all other requirements of sermon, like hamdalah, salwalah etc. have to be carefully met and nothing from the necessity level at least is to be neglected. Sources: 31. Is it allowed to say salah with tie on? Case: The neck-tie is a modern wear. Is the prayer acceptable when prayed wit tie on? Analysis: Modern days we have many clothings and dresses which were not there during the time of the Prophet. Time is changing with every thing. There are different types of ties for men and women. The may have different forms as well. Discussion: There is no mandatory type of religious attire for men in Islam. And also for women. Only there is a code of dress. That is rule of covering certain parts of the body. That is it. Some of the ties may have a shape or form of a religious symbol of a religion other than Islam, like cross etc. That may be not favorable in Islam. Arguments: Everything is halal, except what has been prohibited. The rule is free and liberal. The prohibitions are to be declared exceptional. Suggestion: If the shape and form of the tie is not clearly reflecting any special symbol of any religion other than Islam, there may be no subject of prohibition about it when one is praying. Sources: 32. Some christian ladies stood with us in salah, following same imam, they bowed, prostrated and sat together with us. What is the islamic view about it? Case: The non-muslims joined in the prayers of muslim ladies. That is the essence of the question. Analysis: The non-muslim ladies stood,bowed and prostrated with Muslims. They acted as the others did. The appearance was like that. Discussion: The inner and essential part of it was lacking. That is believing in the Qur'an, in the Prophet and more important believing in Allah. Their intention also does not fit to Islamc Niyyah. Furthermore, the most probably had nod had ablution-type of cleanlines. Arguments:Islam is indipendent and its worshipo system needs to be spared from any mixture with other religions. Suggestion: Therefore, what they did may not be counted as salah of Muslim. Perhaps it is the duty of Muslims to protect the religious practices in their prest forms of rituals. Nevertheless, their attitudes may be useful for dawa activities in the limited level. Sources: 33. Can Muslims pray ( salah ) together with christians? Case: Can salah be mixed with some elements which are the main parts of the worships of other religions? This is shortly the issue. Analysis:Salah is very high Islamic prayer. And it is very much special for Islam. That is the pillar of Islam. One who observes, he is counted as Muslim. One who neglects may be considered as devastating his religion. Discussion: Each religion has a special prayer. Salah is the highest Islamic worship. It is comprised from special acts and elements of behavour. Tha may not fit to any act of other religions. Arguments: Compromise also is not possible. The Prophet is directed not to pray with disbelivers. Suggestion: As a view of Fiqh, this humble brother is of the opinion that slah cannot be shared by muslims with non-Muslims. The dignity of slah has to be maintained high. Sources:Surah al-Kafirun, the verse "innekum wa ma ta`buduna min dunillah". 34. What is the rule to be applied to giving salam to one who prays? Case: Is salam commandable to the one who sees a person praying? has he the duty of saying salam to him? Analysis:Sayingsalam is a directive commanded by the Sunnah of the Prophet. It has a strong base in his practices. Discussion: Salam is a sunnah. It is not fardh. The one who is actually involved in a prayer may be doing fardh prayer. That is stronger than any sunnah. The sunnahs afteh commencing become mandatory to be finished, even to be made up if they are left halfway incomplete. Argument: Heretwoduties clash. Answering back the salam and fulfilling the prayer person commenced. Suggestion: Perhaps the best way of handling this case is not to say salam to one who is not in the position to immediate answering it. Sources: 35. Is there "al-salatu khairun mina 'l-`Amal" in azan of Zuhr? 36. What is the law with regard to the rosary and bids in Islam? Case: Rosary and bids are used by some Muslims. What is the view of religion about it? Analysis: It is not a part of main worship (salah). Bids are used after the fundamental prayer is over. Discussion: That is an instrument to counting the specific dhikr words, like subhanallah, Alhamdulillah etc. The numbers are fixed by Sunnah. Counting them is managed by the person who intends to do it. Arguments: That is not sunnah practice. However, there is enough clue that the Prophet used some stones in counting the dhikr. That may easily be extended to the practices of rosary and bids. Suggestion: That is not a main part of religion. It is matter of of convenience of Muslims. It may not be denounced as bid`ah sayyiah, I believe. Hundreds of Muslim scholars approved, at least implicitly, it along the Islamic History. That also contributed to Islamic culture of Ummah. Sources: 37. Is it mandatory for imam to stand in the middle of the rows of his followers and to make both sides equal to each other? And is it good for imam to step back from the desognated mihrab in order to find a suitable point of center of the rows of his actual followers in that prayer? Case: Since imam stands in the front of a row of people, he may be located in the center or casual point. Is it good for him to stand just in the geomerical middle at least at the beginning of the prayer and even advise to the people to observe symericity in the rows behind, centering imam at front. Analysis: Descipline ans to be systematic is always good and main purpose of Islamic worship. Following one leadership and acceting him as uli 'l-amr are tightly considered in the practices and rules of Islam. Discussion: It is not mentioned in the group of mandatory observances of Islam. Hadith says that imam is to be centered or taken in the middle. It has a hadith besis, but that basis is not interpretede as mandatory (fard) one. Arguments: All arguments are at nadb and mustahab level. No one can deny that it is good to be in good array and observe a very good descipline. Suggestion: It is good to observ3e withgoutt constraint and violation any other rule as much as possible. Source: Sunan Abi Davud, vol.I, 38. I was praying sunnah of Zuhr. Someone joined me as follower thinking that I am praying fard of Zuhr. How must I act? 39. If someone washes his body after the maghreb of thursday night,is it considered as fulfilment of the sunnah or he needs to wash himself after the fajr and before coming to Jum`ah prayer? 40. Is it necessary to make up the missed witr-prayer? 41. Was the salat al-janazah prayed for the Prophet Muhammad and who lead it? The Problem: What happened in terms of funeral prayer when the Prophet Muhammad died? Who lead the prayer? Analysis: The directive of praying salah al-janazah for the deceased Muslims was revealed doring the life of Muhammad and it was strictly practised by him and his company. What happened to him after his death? What is historical fact in this regard? Discussion: Establishing salah al-janazah is fard kifayah, it has definitely to be observed. If some did, that is faine. Otherwise all community is held responsible in the presence of Allah. The difficulty here is that who was going to lead the prayer, since no body was superior to him, and nor chosen as the successor yet. Arguments: History tells us that it is not surely established that the prayer was lead by an imam in one congregation, contrary to the earlier practices. Some say no prayer was done at all. Some others state that people prayed in small and various groups without any imam. Even some say that first men, then women followed by the children, all attended the rite and paid last dutyies in their ways. Suggestion: It is strongly viewed that the prayer was done as different groups and no imam lead the prayer. Sources: al-Qurtubi, Jami' al-Bayan, commenting on the Surah Alu Imran (III), verse 144. Hasan Ibrahim hasan, Tarikh al-Isl;am vol. I, p. 42. What time is jum'ah prayer? Can it be prayed earlier than zuhr prayer? 43. What is the hukm of praying salah al-janazah inside or outside of masjid? 44. Are azan and iqamah to be done by women? 45. Can a person who joins the imam in prayer before ruku takbir get the reward of attending takrah al-ula? 46. Who washed the body of the Prophet after his death and how? 47. Is recitation of Surat al-Kahf before the fajr of Jum`ah or even beginning it after the maghreb of thursday acceptable as sunnah for jum`ah? 48. How to remind to imam when makes mistake in the recitation of Qur'an during the prayer? 49. Are there any particular places in calling first and second azans for frayday prayers? 50. If the shortest way between two points is not considered safari distance, but sone takes the long way which falls under safari distance, is the traveler still considered musafir in terms of shortening the prayers etc.? 51. Can some one break the prayer to answer the phone or to open the door? 52. "I lost my job because of jum`ah prayers. Is it excusable for not to pray jum`ah, since find job is very defficult?" 53. "Someone said that a muslim who gets naturalized American citizenship, may not be followed as imam in jamaah prayers.What do you think about this?" 54. Is praying salah sitting acceptable while the person has no excuse? 55. Can a masbuq be followed by some one who joins him later when masbuq is praying his missed rak`ahs? 56. "I prayed sunnah of zuhr a few minutes before the tonme of azan. Need I to repeat it ?" 57. If the colth is so tight, is okay to wipe on it for wudu instead of washing ? 58. Are we supposed to leave the arms losse down as opposed to tie then on ouw bellies when we stand up back from ruku in salah al-tasbih? 59. How the body of the Prophet was buried, vertical or horizontal to the Qiblah and which direction his head lies? 60. Mother of a converted muslim imam passed away. Her body is in the church. What he and we should do? 61. Some people put the hand on the head and recite something after the prayer in congregation. What is it mean? 62. I have a work where I am praying jum`ah. But there is another job somewhere better than this one in terms of paymenets. There is no possibility of praying jum`ah over there? Can I shift to the latter job? 63. I heard that the shadow of one who prays must not fall in front of him. That is why perhaps the people like to light the lamp in mihrab to eradicate the shadow. What do you say about this? 64. Some peole wave their hands up and down like beating their knees after the salam of the prayer. What is it mean? 65. Back in Yaman I remember du`a of al-Qunut was recited loudly. Is there any thing like that in literature? 66. When tarawih is prayed individually, which one is better, recitation of qur'an loudly or secretly? 67. Is it proper to say "ashhadu anna la ilaha illa Alla" in azan? 68. Is tahajjud prayer in jama`ah observed in the time of the Prophet? 69. Can a boy who is under the age of puberty lead a naf prayer? 70. Can janazah prayer be established after maghrib or isha especially when the night is lailatu `l-qadr? 71. Im muslims and non-muslims died ain accident and it is not possible to differentiate muslims, how to pray salah al-janazajh 72. Can tahajjud be prayed after witr prayer? 73. Is knowing exact time of jum`ah prayer and praying at home by sisters sunnah? 74. We heard that if eid falls on jum`ah day, the jum`ah prayer is not to be observed. Is it valid view? 75. How to fast and pray in the abnormal zones? 76. If one prays sunnah of fajr in his home and comes to masjid, can he still pray tahiyyat al-masjid before the fard od the fajr prayer? 77. I saw a man praying in the masjid with mini-skirt. Is it ok? 78. What is the hukm of cremation of the dead body in Islam? 79. What are the maximum and minimum limits of the ishraq and tahajjud prayers? 80. We were travelling. We began to pray in jama'ah seperately in a masjid. In second rak`ah the main jama`ah under the imam began. What do you advise us, to continue or to break the prayer and join to main jama`ah? 81. When azan and iqamah are necessary for an individual in tems of prayers on time and missed prayers? 82. Is washing the body of a person recovered fron the lake after he was drowned necessary in Islam? 83. Is azan necessary for the prayers made individually inside the mosque? 84. Can the children and women pray janazah prayer? 85. What are the bases of missed (qada') prayer? Is it practiced by the Prophet? 86. Some people pray some rak'ahs after azan of maghrig and before the actually prayer is established. Do you elaborate on it? 87. I read some where that husband and wife alone cannot form congregational prayer in home. Is it correct? 88. Which is the first prayer of the day, maghrib or fajr? When bigins the lunar day? 89. Can a woman in her menstrual period wash the body of a deceased? 90. Can women and children pray janazah prayer? 91. I am cashier, some times my hands touches a woman with no bad intention. Is my wudhu broken? 92. Is it good to see imam when praying and ask him to steo a little back from mihrab so that one may see him? 93. What is the best time for istikharah prayer? 94. How to arrange the lines in prayer by pralaaeling the toes or wheels? 95. Is it jaiz to give tayammum to muslim body if there is no place for washing or it is very expensive? 96. Is it ok to turn the body, not the face only, when calling azan? III. Sawm ( Fasting ) : 1. Is sighting the moon needed for Ramadan and is it binding on the muslims to fast when some one sighted? 2. Is a shot or injection a breaker of fasting? Case: It is not allowed to have any thing in during fasting. What about the shots or injections? Analysis: What is our preception of fasting and what do we understand from not eating or drinking during the fasting period. That affects the practices. Discussion: If we stick strongly to the fasting in the sense of abstaining from any drops or anything entering into the inside of the human body, then the consequence changes to be different. If we take it loose and easy, then they may be taken as granted, while fasting. Arguments: Different understanding affected the problem. mainly two cntradicting approaches left their traces in the muslim world. One shots and injections break the fasting, second they donot break the fasting. Suggestion: Since there is no unanimity in the understanding and practices, it is better to abstainn from any thing which makes our fasting doubtful. Sources: 3. Does eyedrop break the fasting? Suggestion: Further to what had been said in preceding problem if the drop will not penetrate inside the body (which called jawf) and will dry up from the surface of the body, then the eyedrop may be considered as unbreaker of tthe fasting, othjerwise it looks in the understanding of some ulama' as breaker. 4. Can the faster brush the teeth with toothpaste? Case: 5. Is swimming breaker of the fasting? 6. Can some one who is fasting enhail a medicine if he feels he is deemed because of the allergy may inflict? 6. Is there any difference between fajr time and sahur time? 7. Does the test for tuberculosis (TBN) break the fasting? 8. Does taking the blood out of the body break the fasting (Hajamah)? 9. Does a gyconologists examining the womb of the woman break the fasting? 10. Were there two azans in fajr and sahar time during the time of Prohpet in Rnadan? 11. "I send the fidyah money of my mother's fasting days back home.When I send it? Can send it before the end of ramadan, so that the money may be in the hand of receiver on the eid day?" 12. My mother gets inusulin ang cannot fast. She wants to make i`tikaf with having inusulin. Is it ok? 13. If a traveller fasts and travels west where there is three or four hour difference between the take off and landing points, when he is going to break his fasting? Likewise if he goes to east to destination where the difference is ten, fifteen or more what he going to do? 14. Does cleaning the ears with shwabs or medical devices break the fasting? 15. Is a pregnant woman allowed to not fast? Also if sha has a baby is she allowed not to fast? 16. If a lady gets cleaned ten minutes after imsak time in Ramadan, is she supposed to fast that day? 17. I am a new muslim. It is very hard for me to fast. What can I do? 18. Does lailatu 'l-qadr alternate each year among the odd numbered nights in the last ten days of ramadan? 19. Is it allowed to make i`tikaf and run business by phone calls or modern communication devices? 20. Whan i`tikaf in ramadan to be ended, after maghrib of the night before eid day or after eid prayer? 21. Arab brothers say "yawmu siyamika yawmu naharika" meanig the eid al-adhha falls on the same day with which ramadan begins. Is it correct? 22. Is ok to fast for the solidarity with the people who struggle for their lives or for hunger strike? IV. Zakah ( Alms-Giving ): 1. Is a tax acceptable as zakah? 2. Whome should zakah to be given? 3. Can a muslim here send zakah to his/her relatives or intitutes back home? 4. Can zakah be spent for the construction or maintenaince of the mosque? 5. What is the fitrah amount and the short explanation about it? Is it mandatory to declare it to the recepient? 6. Is it necessary to declare to receipient that the money is zakah? 7. Is zakat al-fitr necessary to be paid for non-muslim wife? 8. Can one buy a ticket for a poor person by zakat al-fitr instead of giving him cash? 9. Can zakah be invested to publish books for Islam and after selling can the capital be dispensed a little more zakatable persons or places? In another words, can zakah be taken to another Islamic service budget as a loan and after the end of the term of agreement can it be paid off back to zakah budget? Can we establish with zakah fund an institute and run all the expenses of that institute in profitable and business way? 10. Can zakah be give to a person against his wage or compensation for a work he has done in the masjid, not as a wage, but to make do something good for the Community? 11. Can a Muslim give sadaqah to non-Muslim? 12. Is it allowed to give sadaqah to mosque? 13. Is there zakah to be paid for the income involved in iteres? 14. How to give zakah of an income came from the lottery in which the name was drawn through newspaper subscription list or social security numbner wwithout personal participation? 15. Is it islamic to give zakah from an learning of haram business? 16. Is zakat alu 'l-fitr to be given for the fetus in the the womb of the mother? 17. Can zakat al-fitr be seperated before eid and be sent to the recipient after eid? Can an agent do it? 18. I paid zakah to a person eligible but not intended to be given to. Can I reverse it take it it back? can sttop the payment on check? 19. I did not pay zakah of my savings for ten years. How can I make it and in which way? 20. I have a land not cultivated. Do I need to pay its zakah? 21. I pledged some money for my zakah to an organization. Now they delay asking for it? May I wait? V. Family Code : 1. The marriage in Islamic Law and what about it? 2. What the conditions of marrying a non-muslim and their conditions? Do free relations observed by the same people make it possible for bothcouples to marry each other with no penalty? 3. Can a muslim woman marry a non-muslim man? 4. If there are divorce problems, and if the husband is not there available to address them because he disapeared what can his spouse do? Can she go to a muslim alim and accept his decision as the verdict of a judge or go to him as a muslim arbitrator ( hakam )? 5. What is the hukm of covering the whole body of a woman in Islam, except her face, hands and feet? What is the issue of Hijab (Pardah)? 6. What is the hukm of non-muslim women regarding the awrah of a muslim woman and man as well? Can a muslim sister be naked with a non-muslim woman? 7. She was a christian, who lived with a muslim man in a non-marital manner and conceived a child from him.Is this child walad al-zina? What is the religion of the child? Who will take care of the child? 8. Is itallowed to say that step father of a child is his real father, if the real father disappeared? Is it allowed to hide the real father from the child? 9. Can an adolescent boy get his ears pierced and wear earings? 10. Can a woman dye her hair? Can a man do that? 11. Can a muslim girl or woman cut some of their hair? 12. Who has the right of guardianship between a husband and wife in case of seperation or conflict? 13. Is the consent of a wali necessary in marriage, if so if a girl here has no relatives and wali, who can make it possible to marry under Islam? Can the imam of her mosque or chairman of an Islamic organization represent the caliph? 14. Who will take care of a girl whose father died in terms of her marriage? 15. Is it allowed for her to work and can her husband take the money earned by the wife? 16. Is talaq in absentia allowed? 17. Is poligamy allowed in Islam? 18. What is the hukm of hijab in Islam? Is it cultural? 19. Can an imam make nikah together with priest collectively? Is it islamically admitted aqd? 20. Can guardian marry minors and what are the laws regarding to that? 21. What is the rights and obligations of a non-muslim wife in a muslim family? How has the husband to act and behave in the family? 22. I was married in the church or by the justice of peace. and I have children. Now I want to islamize my marriage. What shall I do? 23. I am engaged more than a year. May I shake the hands with her? 24.Can girls swimm im a swimming-pool? 25. Can a muslim kiss the hands of a woman? 26. Is putting a dumb daugther who has reached puberty, even 18, under the hajr here in America to secure that she may not run away from home and get stranded allowed? 27. "I am sunni. My wife was married before to a ja`fari. She is also ja'fari. Her marriage didnot work. She demanded divorce.Her husband refused it. lawyer advised her to change to sunnisim. She filed in civil court. We arranged with the postman, so the courts summon to the defendant was not deliovered and we announced in a very small newspaper. Court granted devorce based on technical reasons of nonappearance of the defendant.We married each other. I have a boy. She is ja`fari and I ma sunni. the ex-husband showed up and says she is my wife. What is my status and the status of the child?" 28. Are the gifts given during the engagement period to be counted for the dowry? 29. Is marriagebond between the couples authomatically dissolved if one of them commits adu;ltery and confessest? 30. What is the status of a child of adultery? 31. If the woman became pregnant before marriage and the copules married each other, does child become legitimate? 32. In marrige certificate which was done in Pakistan it is recorded that certain amount of dowry will be paid in "current currency". Now we are living in America. What am I supposed to pay? 33. Are girls and women allowed to have in Islam long fingernails and toenails? 34. "I am a divorced muslim woman. My 18 years old son is not. A muslim man wants to marry me. But he says after marriage we can not live to gether with my son in the same hous, since he is not muslim. What is your commen on that?" 35. A convert muslim lady married to muslim man. He left for jihad in Afghanistan. An refuses to take of her here in USA and take her to a place near to him. No he says he may grant her divorce provided she pays him this and that. What is your comment on that? 36. " My husband divorced me previously in Saudi Arabia and married eachother later. Now we are in USA. He pronounced divorce sistimes in one position. What is our situation now?" 37. "WWe wre married according to common law. We becam muslims at the same time. We refreshed our marrgige according to Islam too. But I do not have any document. Is our marriage valid according to Islam?" 38. "I and my wife get along well. But my father-in-law keeps her under his dominion away from me and threatens me with suing me in the non-muslim court.What can I do?" 39. I am planning to get marry in near future. I am not circumcised yet. Is it necessary to be circumcised? 40. Is it acceptable in Islam to have birth control by bloching the way sperms oursue in reaching the womb? 41. Can my husband prevent me from going out to gwt edudation and to work? 42. What is the practical meaning of "mata`un bi 'l-ma`ruf" in the verse 241 of al-Baqarah? 43. I am married to a kitabiyyah.She does not have hijab.She does not pray salah. She takes alcohol in the home. Am I responsible for that? 44. In India we do not do nikah between the tenth of Muharram and and of safar. Fourty days. Is it islamic? 45. My wife's eggs are week. can I marry another womanislamically and take her egg and plant it in the body of may wife and join with my sperm? 46. What is the amount of milk an adopted child has to take in order to fix the kinship in Islam? 47. Is the wwife supposed to stay in her father`s home during the iddah period after talaq? 48. Is khul` divorce reversible? If it is, then whose decison is final? or both of them have to agree? Is there any time limit? Can they marry each other onece more? 49. my wife has a daughter from her previous husband. When it becomes haram for me to have the daughter in my house? 50. Which one is better for a woman to work outside or to go to wellfare? 51. Who belongs the children after divorce? 52. Who is head of house in a muslim family? What are the rules if the husband is incapacitated or disabiled or dead or children are yet little? 53. My husband isunni and I am ismaili shi`ah. We have children and figting about how to educate the childre. Does he have right to to force to his belief? 54. Is oral swex from the both partyies jaiz? 55. Is it ok if the marriage is performed in churh and mosque twice? 56. Is it jaiz to make nikah when she is on her menstrual period? 57. Is it ok for husband to send money to his father without getting the permission of his wife? 58. If the father misusing the money,is the son still supposed to send him money? 59. When hijab begins for the girls? What time boys and girls need to separated and cannot touch to each other? 60. Is fortieth day included in the nifas period? 61. What are the cases by which a person is allowed to cut off his relations with his relatives? 62. I am paying very little amount for my child support, because I was student divorce time, Now I may afford more,. but I don't think that the money will go to my child, his mother will grab it, he is sending my child to catholic school. What do you advise me? 63. Can I kidnap my child, take him back home and deprive him from seeing his mother, since the mother is taking him to church? 64. Where a woman walks (behind or next) when she is with her male relatives? 65. Is holding the hands of wife in public allowed in Islam? 66. Are the children of a wedlock betwween a nonmuslim woman and muslim man who married each other in an American court walad al-zina what to do with them? 67. Is jaiz to share the home wit a non-muslim family who has grownup daughters? 68. I am married and have children. My fathers comes and visits me asks me money and a lot of other things. Am supposed to obey him? Who is the head of the family in this case? VI. Hajj ( Pilgrimage ): 1. I have monthly payments for my home. Can I go to hajj? 2. What are the requirements of hajj journey for a muslim lady? 3. If she is in period how she is going to make hajj rituals? 4. Is it allowed to pick the candidate pilgrims bby drawing the names pursuant to the quota imposed by saudi Goverment? 5. "My mother is very old and missed me a lot. I am going to Umrah and planning to stay more for hajj with her permission. Which one is best to go immediately after Umrah and be with her or to stay for hajj with her permission?" 6. Is it an immediate farz to do hajj for the one who just made his umrah? 7. I made several hajjs. I have a daughter in saudi Arabia. I am in USA. Can my daughter make nafl hajj for me? VII. Waqf : 1. What arelaws of being in masjids?What are the etiquette of masajid? 2. Are non-Muslims allowed to enter masjids? Is it allowed to make joint programs with rabis and priests in the masjids? 3. Is it allowed the masjids to be used for the meetings of general body of the association of the mosque? 4. Did the Prophet have a minbar? How many steps a minbar may have the most? What is the maximum height of minbar? 5. Is it allowed for a masjid to become member of the community of churches? 6. Is it allowed to buy a building for masjid by a money earned through business of photo making, mopvie producing, or video renting or making? 7. What are the borders of a masjid in terms of i`tikaf, allowing the the women on period etc. to enter? 8. Is it fine if I take a waqf Qur'an from masjid and put another edition of it. I liked that print vary much? 9. Is it jaiz the masjids to be repaired and painted by non-muslims? 10. Can non-muslims repair copiers inside the masjid? 11. Can a physician answer the call from his patient with cordless phone when he is inside the masjid? Can he break his prayer when call comes? VIII. Food and Drinks : 1. Can a muslim eat in a church the food offered as offerrings to God or to Jesus Christ if a priest is praying and mentioning the Trinity. 2. Is cat-fish allowed to be consumed? 3. What about shrimps and lobsters? 4. What are the condition of Zabiha meat which is halal? 5. Is chicken which is fed with artificial food made of blood and remnants of a pig ( and also fish fed by the same way ) allowed? 6. Is it it permissible to eat a food prepared by a hindu and are the utensils used by him good for eating? 7. Someone brought a gif of statute, choclate made of liquer, cookies made of animal shortening. How to dispose them? may I give them to non-muslims or dell and donate the money to masjid? 8. Is the hindu food offered to idol ( prasad ) halal to a muslim? 9. Is the meat of an animal slaughtered by a sikh with the chart technique halal to a muslim? 10. Can we do zabiha on the second or third day of eid al-adha, because we cannot find inspector when the eid falls on the weekend? 11. Is it permissible to runa restaurant with artificial vegetable bacon in it? 12. Are the meats of animals fed and bred with the by-products of pig or unslaughtered animals halal? 13. Are the meats of artificially inseminated animals permissible in Islam? 14. "Someone told ma jelatin is used in the processing of sugar. What do you say?" 15. Is it against sunnah to eat while shoes are on? 16. If some one is left handed by birth and is not easy to change it, how is he going to eat with right hand? 17. Is eating turkey on thanksgiving day lawful in Islam? 18."I am married to a converted muslim.Her mother died recently. Borther-in-law invites her and us to christmas dinner.Can we go?" 19. Is eating snake halal? 20. Is eating fish bigger than human being halal? 21. Is milk of donkey halal to consume? 22. If a christian slaughters and muslim standing by says basmalah, is it halal? 23. Is it halal to use mouth-washer lequids? 24. Is food included in "su'r al-mu'mini shifa'"? 25. Were the sahabi of the Prophet or others smoking duringthe time of Prophet? 26. Is the meat of a hunted deer, maybe for sprt, halal? What about if it is hunted by a christian? IX.Music : 1. Is music halal? Is composing or conducting concerts allowed in Islam? 2. Are there any musical instruments allowed? 3. Is dancing allowed in Islam? Are national games permissable? 4. Is just simple singing or chanting jaiz ( allowed ) in Islam? 5. Can a woman read Qur'an or sing some religious poems out loud in Islam? 6. Is using bells halal? X. Transactions : 1. Is insurance permissible in Islam? 2. What about business with and salesmanship of insurance? 3. Are retirement allowances and pensions permissible in Islam? 4. Is the money paid by insurance for a car accident halal? If the money is more than the value of the car or its repair expenses, is it still halal? 5. Can some one use airline ticket assigned by the company for a relative by a little trick for umrah or hajj? 6. Is buying and running a business which has a very small portion of alcohol materials allowed? 7. Is running a drug business in which there are some alcoholic or pig products or meat of unislamically slaughtered animals permissable? 8. Is any payment made by social security permissible in Islam? 9. Is any payment taken under the name of commission, where its calculation and procedure are exactly like interest allowed or not? 10. Is the share of a muslim state in the IMF or the WB or similar institutions halal, even if interest is not there? 11. Is it allowed in Islam to file a voluntar bankrupcy? 12. Are the effects of revolutions and major forces recognized on credits and debts? If you owed some Kuwaitis of upheaval some money in dinar, what should you do after the Iraqi invasion? 13. If your company is doing a clear injustice to you by not paying overtime, can you take the law in your own hands and cheat or steal some of their products? 14. Is it jaiz to work in a restaurant, fast food or convenience store where pork, alcohol and other haram items are processed or sold, or treated, even if they are very minute in proprotion? 15. Can a Muslim accept and respond to Christmas gifts? Can he or she attend a Christmas dinner? 16. Is it permissible to give a gift for the birth-day of a wife and. arranging a special gathering? 17. What is awrah? and is it allowed for a muslim womantobe uncovered in the presence a non-muslim woman? 18. Is watching TV haram or halal? 19. Are playing chess and other games halal? What about footbal and boxing? 20. Is a mortgage system halal? 21. Is it allowed to attend the parties of marriage and baptism of non-muslims or their funerals etc? 22. Is it permissible to visit with churches and to attend their services? 23. Is having an interest free checking accountin the banks functioning with interest allowed in Islam? and is the bank's exemption of charging its customer for doing some transaction interest or not? 24. What to do the money found in some place? 25. I stole something. Now I repent and regret. What must I do? 26. Are all types of advertisements and windowshowings allowed in Islam? 27. Are all types of salemanship annd the techniques used in this business permissible in Islam? 28. Are having close relation with Shiites and Ismailis allowed or not? 29. Is publishing an anouncement of business in which ham and other haram things are involved allowed? 30. Is it allowed to put a cat into sleep if we cannot afford looking after it? 31. Is putting the parfumes and cosmetics on allowed? The alcohol may evaporate easily? Is it still haram? 32. My neigbour is Hindu. She asked me to give her some roses from my garden, so that she may put and offer them to the idol she keeps. Is it allowed to me to give the roses? 33. Is brokerage business and profit gained in this way allowed? 34. Are silk ties and socks permissible to a man in Islam? 35.Are the golden ring and platin which is more expensive than gold allowed in Islam? 36. Is cracking the knuckles of fingers allowed? 37. Is sitting like a dog in masjid and else where permitted? 38. What are the dar al-Islam and dar al-kufr and their consequences? 39. Is business of selling materials taken from pig halal for a Muslim here in America? 40. Is cashing the checks business allowed to a Muslim? 41. Is attending the services in synagogues by a public invitation sinful in Islam? 42. Is attending the commemoration of the arrival of the First Pilgrims to America by Eucharist ceremony allowed as representative of the Muslims here in America? 43. Are the advertisements done in news papers and TVs allowed? 44. Are windowshwing busineses and showing things in window cases permitted in Islam? 45. Are know hows, cpy rights and patents regognized rights in Islam? 46. Can a muslim man shake the hand with a woman? 47. Is keeping a dog allowed in Islam? 48. What about mortgages in America? 49. If you are in a churh or synagog, and you are asked to pray loudly before the food is served, what will be your position? If pries offers the prayer, what attending muslims have to recite or do? 50. What is the iskamic hukm for a Muslim in regard to standing up when a rabbi or a priest approachews you? 51. Is pulling the chariot with hindus halal to a muslim? 52. Is watching TV haram? 53. Are reading the fictions, toroes, romances, books on mithology and philosophy haram? 54. Is reading the Bible and keeping it at home haram? 55. I made a sale contract and received some amount as earnest money. Now I want to rescind it. What should I do? 56. Are investments in stocks allowed in Islam? 57. Are thrift plans in compamies and institutes allowed in Islam? 58. Is it mandatory to employ Muslims and to give contract to them, preferring them to non-Muslims? 59. "I am auditor,I go to groceries and count the stuff and tell the owner their values. Is it halal what I am doing?" 60. "I am jobless, Whnever I go to rent and count the stuff and tell the owner their values. Is it halal what I am doing?" 60. "I am jobless, Whnever I go to rent an apartment they askme whether I have job or not, If say I donot, they donot rent me. Am allowed to lie them?" 61. "I am an old woman. Theree of my children work in haram business. Two are working in the bank. I donot have any income. They give me money. Is it halal? Can I donate it to masjid as charity? Can I go to hajj?" 62. Are the pictures and photos allowed in Islam? 63. Is using or selling cologne halal? 64. Is shifting the body of a decesed Muslim to overseas haram? 65. Is leaving or selling the body of a deceased Muslim to authorities or corporations haram? 66. If one has debts and payments in instalments and barely lives with his monthly income,is he still bound to slaughter an animal in the Eid al-Adha? 67. How to dispose the papers where on the names of Allah or parts of the verses are printed? 68. Can one distribute the meat of qurbani to non-Muslims? 69. Is working in a dry-cleaner where alcohol or some enzymes are used as cleaner halal? 70. Is using ink made of alcohol or its enzymes to print Qur'an allowed? 71. Is lottery machine allowed in grocery? 72. Are things made of the skin of the pig allowed in Islam afeter being tanned? 73. "Is it allowed in islam to have two months free tennacy after paying a few months payments in advance? 74. "I borrowed money with interest. I ma paying back. Someone told me to pay the principal, not to pay the interest which is outlawed according the law of the land. What is your view about it?" 75. Is inflation haram from the perspective of government? 76. Is buying and selling foreign currency in black market with high value halal in a muslim country? 77. Is watching TV and movies there with women etc. haram? 78. Is the beard to be a handful long and how to measure it? 79. Can a state office-holder take gifts from the people? 80. Are muslim professional free to charge whatever they wish for their services? 81. "We have shareholders' money. Someone asked us loan to pay in advance for the the things he is buying. And he will get 10 percent reduction and give that amount to us. He is going to give that amount to the seller in amny way. Is this process free of interest?" 82. Is baying things from a shop which doesnot close Jum`a time halal? 83. Is lottery allowed in Islam? 84. In invoice it is written some fixed amoun with a note if the buyer pays in ten days time, he can reduct 5 % of the amount. Is it halal? 85. Is water saleable? 86. Can the money of selling the pig or alcohol be used? 87. "My government sent me a ticket. Can I give it to someone else or ttrade it for cheaper one and tke the difference?" 88. Is there a sin in setting the lectricity system in a shop where beer is sold? 89. "I have five corporation. One of them went bankrupt. It was limited liability company. Am I supposed to pay the debts from other companies?" 90.Is an agreement of guaranteeing the the creditor's or capital investor's investment in a caompany whre the business is run by other party acceptable in Islam? 91. Is it allowed to run a business of photo making,movie producing, video selling or renting etc.? 92. Is it allowed for a muslim to put up a chritmas tree? 93. "Someone converted to christianity and became murtad. He comes and visits me with his wife. I donot like him. What must I do?" 94. "I am getting madicaid for my american born child. I received recently some lumpsome money previously not paid to me.If I report this income, the authorities will cut the medicaid of my child. I need money for her health. Is it halal?" 95. Is it allowed to put the maings of all dead bodies in one place when need to transfer the graves to another locality? 96. How to qualify an income of a lottery in which the name was picked by the list of newspaper or social security number? 97. Is it allowed for a printhouse to print the tickets of a lottery? 98. "I worked hard and saved the money and built a home back in my country mainly with my momey. My eldest brother rebelled and files a suit claiming the ownership of the house. He had some money here and I fought back with his money and won the court. Now can I deduct the expenses of court from his money and send back to him the remaing?" 99. Is it allowede coloring the hair,beard abd moustache? What about women? 100. I am invited to a ritual of a jewish girl called to the Torah on the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah. Can I attend that ritual? 101. Are masturbation and self-gratification allowed in Islam? 102. I killed my wife by accident. What have I to do in terms of diyah and kaffarah? 103. I lost some money of the store under my responsiblity. We have insurance. Must I personally pay or depemd on the insurance? 104. Is coloring the hairs by a woman allowed in Islam? 105. Is extending hairs of a woman by the artificial synthetic hairs jaiz in Islam? 106. Is life insurance (both term insurance and universal insurance) together with disability insurance allowed in Islam? 107. Is smuggling and laundering the money jaiz? what is the evidence for that? 108. Is it allowed to a muslim construction company to built a church or extend it? 109. What is islamic rule about peacock? Is it bird? Is it halal? 110. Is neck-tie or bow-tie haram to put on? 111. Some gave down payment. Now he declines buying the shop. Can I keep his down payment? 112. I save some amount of money in my company. They guarantee the principals to pay back. Each month they give some dividends. Are these dividend halal? 113. Is doing business with a jew allowed in Islam? 114. Is it ok to give money instead of slaughterin animal as qurbani? 115. What are the ethical rules of cutting nails in terms of time? 116. Is selling and buying tickets for lottery jaiz? 117. Is it ok to pay on behalf of the corporation for the alcohol consumed by the clientn mby a muslim sales manager? 118. Is it halal to have non-muslim pen-pals? 119. Is it ok to slaughter a castrated animal as qurbani? 120. Insurances are mandatory and voluntary. Unemployment commission is nothing but an insurance company? What are the islamic view about the insurances? 121. If you buy your flight ticket by American Express you are automatically insured some amount of money. Is it halal? 122. Can a partnership be established by 40 % and 20 % and the rest for the runner of the business? 123. Is it halal not to sell directly, but to tell the clients that they may bring their own alcohol to the restaurant? 124. Is it halal to have a fixed salary and plus some certain percentage of gross sale? 125. Can I lease my rreal estate knowingly to some one who will accomodate a restauranteur who will serve alcohol? 126. Is it halal to serve as professional in the American armed forces? 127. My father was subcontractor. He could not pay to his emloyees because main company did pay to him because of war in Kuwait.He passed away.Do I need to pay fro him and is it Ok, if I give to masjid some mopney and does it help to debts he owed to unknown laborer coming from different part of the world? 128. Is jewelry business halal? Is selling gold ring knowingly to a muslim male halal? XI. Inheritance : 1. Can a person who is naturalized here who came from a muslim country inherit from his relatives back home in the properties, both immobiles and mobiles, and also in money and stocks? 2. Can a Christian relative inherit from a muslim in any way? 3. I took a certain amount om money from my father as a loan. Now he has passed away. What am I gonig to do with that debt? 4. "I am from Jordan. My mother died before my grandfather (her father). I have one uncle and one aunt, both are brother and sister of my mother. Now my grandfather died. He left some lands. Can I get any share? 5. My wife is converted muslim. Her father boughyt a life insurance and put my wife's name among the beneficiaries. What must I do? XII. Politics : 1. Is secularism allowed in Islam? 2. What is the status of an Imam, Chairman or President of an Association or Society in terms of " Uli 'l-Amr " ( People of authority ) mentioned in the Qur'an? 3. What are the hukm of preserving cultural elements, traditions, linguistical and racial characteristics in a multinational and multicutural enviroments of Muslims? 4. Is a person who blasdphemes the Prophets to be killed? Can he repent? If the blaspheme is exercised in a publication can he repent verbally? 5. Is it allowed to get permanent residency or citizenship of a non-muslim country without any constraint? 6. What is the belief of the advent of Mahdi in Islam? 7. Are the captives in modern war (POW) accepted as slaves? 8.Is political killing (siyasatan qatl) to secure unity ofstate allowed in Islam? 9. Is transfering the throne to a minor of the royal family acceptable in Islam? 10. Did the Prophet have a flag? If yes what was it? 11. Did the muslim army use a password? 12. What is the Holy War? What are its conditions? 13. Can a land after having been dar al-Islam turn into dar al-kufr? What are the repercussion about Palestine, Israel, Afghanistan and the countries which got independence from the Ottoman Empire? 14. Is making peace with Israel allowed? 15. Is it haram for a muslim to vote in favour of a non-muslim candidate? 16. How long the effect of the Constitutional arrangments of the Prophet lasted after him? XIII. Judiciary and Courts in Islam : 1. Is a muslim permitted to appeal to a totally non-muslim judge or court for a personal or family code of transactions etc.? Does a non-muslim court have the competence and capacity ( walayah ) to be involved in solving conflicts among Muslims,or even one party is Muslim? 2. Is a muslim obliged to find a Muslim faqih or alim and get his opinion about a conflict and accept it as verdict and apply it on himself willingly? 3. Is it permissible for a muslim to sit in a jury in a court of law? XIV. Islamic Medicine : 1. Is curing and taking care of AIDS patients, homosexuals, heterosexuals and lesbians allowed for a Muslim physician? 2. Can a muslim working in a restaurant take the left over food with some alcohol and pig materials in them and bring them to the Christian homeless shelters? 3. Is removing life support devices and instruments from a patient allowed in Islam? The Problem: Thereare hundreds of patients under the care of physisians living in the machines and tools of life suppoorting means and ways. The expenses are enormous, no one can bear it. They amount to milions. The patients are medically have no chance of recovering back to normal life. Can we remove these devices from the person and facilitate him aan easy and early death living him into the natural course? The Analysis: The hospitals and health centers developed alot in modern world. They have a very compound devices, instrument and know techniques of prolonging the life of a person as mucu as possible. In old days there were no such technique, the person were dying easily. Even to day in undeveloped countries where there is no interference, the same early death isa taking place. But in industrialised and developed countries the death some times is taken out of its natural course and the person is left in agony and pain long time with the life supporting instruments. It costs a lot to the family. The patient suffers very severly. Arguments: The life is given by Good. Also the death. He creates both of them. It is the duty od others to help and allviate the agony, not to contribute to the death of a living creature. But this leads to unbearable burden of the family, staff of hospitals and at the end costs to the national budget. Brain has died, the person is in a comma and then turns to vegitated life. Suggestion: here we must define what is the medical death and what is the death according to Islam. A very strong study has to be done by a concil of Muslim scholars with the all supports of physisians and the allied professionals. Then the council must pass a resolution to guide the concerned people to the voluntary type of practices. 4. Can a Muslim student attend or participate in a disection process of an animal ( pig, frog etc.)? 5. Is autopsy of a dead body jaiz? Can a non-muslim physician make autopsy on the body of a Muslim, especially if it is female? 6. Is it allowed to impregnate the wife and use the fatal tissue to cure a desease? 7. Is it allowed to meke models of living creatures of mud? 8. Is it allowed to diasesect a frog or any other animal in anatomy or physiology? 9. Is circumcision mandatory in Islam? 10. Some people oppose the male students' study of some topics like woman body etc. in schools. What do you say? 11. Some people wipe therir eyes during iqamah before the prayer. Is it sunnah? XV. Iman and Belief : 1. What are the attributes of Allah: 2. What is the menaing of prophethood and messengerhood in Islam? 3. What is the resurrection in Islam. 4. Is the Qur'an created? 5. Is putting up Christmas trees allowed in American Muslim homes? 6. What is the law regarding the baptising a baby born to a Muslim father and Christian mother? 7. What are differences between kafir and mushrik in the Qur'an and are the Christians also kafirs? 8. What is the Islamic view of reciting Qur'an and du'as for deceased persons? What do you say about Qur'an-khani? 9. What about witchcraft ( sihr) in Islam? 10. Is there exorcism in Islam ( Tilsim types ) and others.? 11. Is tawiz, muskha in Turkish acceptable in Islam? Does it work? 12. Isthere something to be posseed by demons or haunted homes et. in Islam? 13. If muslims are in a meeting and funeral of a non-Muslim and audience have been invited into the silence prayer, what muslims should do? 14. Can a Muslim or imam stand in the main sanctuary of a synagogue or church together with priest or rabbi and pray for the people past or killed in a war? What should the Muslim do in this type of situation? 15. Wll good christians and jews and others enter paradise? 16. Was Prophet Isa lifted up to the heaven with his body alive? 17. Which one of Ismail and Ishaq was to be offered in the sacrifice? 18. "My christian brother died.He was very sympathetic for our being muslim. How can I pray for him as a muslim?" 19. What is the correct view of the second advent of Jesus Christ in Islam? 20. What is the real concept of Mahdism in Islam? 21. What language will Jesus Christ speak after his advent? 22. Is it allowed to omit the name of Prophet Muhammad and some other expressions in a prayer made in an interfaith meeting made by a muslim? 23. Was adam one for thisa world? What about adam of Jinns? an Muhammad be adam of Bazm-i Alast? 24. Is there any thing wrong in addressing to the Prophet as "ya!" or ".. ka" or "anta"? 25. Will non-muslims, including christians and jews, enter pradise? 26. A christian says "I am muslim christian", another one adds "I am one day muslim, one day christian". These have been said after a lecture on the universality of Islam is given. What is your comment? 27. What was the race of Jesus Christ? Could he be Afro-American? 28. When will Jesus Christ come,before or after the advent of Mahdi? 29. Will jinns go to the same pradise or hell with the human beings? 30. " Imade a nadhr (vow) that if I retain my helath, I will give $ 50 sadaqah to masjid. May I give it for membership fee?" 31. Is it true that a good muslim will be shown a shabih of the Prophet Muhammad when he is questioned by the angels in the grave? 32. What are the names of gates of hell as opposed to the names of paradise? 33. What is the judgement about hindu-born and lived person? Is he eligible to enter pradise? 34. When I am sleeping I sometimes feel someone is grabing and strangling me.What is this? 35. A person died an was not washed yet. Is it jaiz to say fatiha for him? 36. Is there any evolution in the sharia from the time of Adam? Does Allah change his words? 37. Can we say "radiya Allahu anh" after the name of Mu`awiyah? 38. Is it jaiz to walk for justice on Good Friday with pastors? 39. My non-muslim friend is in hospital. He asked me to pray for for him. What can I read as prayer? 40. Are durzis and nusairis considered as muslims? 41. What happens to two angels in charge of recording the deeds of a peson afteh his death? Do they attend his funeral prayer too? 42. What are the meanings of "ruh" and "nafs" in Islam? and what are the differences between the two? 43. Is it jaiz to bow when doin karate? 44. Is it jaiz to have relation whit a brother who is christian and gay? 45. Did jinns have a different prophet from their own before Muhammad? What is the meaning of "rusulun minkum" (Surat al-an`am, verse 130)? 46. Who was to be sacrificed, Ismail or Ishaq? What you cpmment on the mawdudi's view? 47. What is the number of years which "ashab al-kahf" waited?Is it known? What is the purpose of Allah's saying "Allahu a`lamu bima-labithu? 48. What are "alamin" of "rahmatan lil-`alamin" in modern terms? 49. I am giving money to mosque each month for my dead father. My mother is alive. can I give for her too? XVI. Ethics : 1. Can a Muslim say salam to a non-muslim? 2. Can a muslim be friendly with the people who are involved in injustice? 3. Can a Muslim attend the celebrations of Christmas or Thanks-giving? 4. What are the rules related to the moustach and beard in Islam? 5. What are the forms and styles of beard and moustach in Islam? 6. If some body is backbitten in one's presence or gossipped where we are, what a Muslim should do? 7. What is the rule to be applied with regard giving salam in bathroom? Also salam to one who is reading Qur'an or doing dhikr? 8. Is it sunnah to vist the graveyards at the night of the middle of Sha`ban (Shab-i Baraat)? 9. Can muslims visit the non-muslim cemetery? 10. Is it against the dress code of Islam to shave the head bold for men? 11. Can one use scissor or razor to remove the hairs of private parts? What tool did the Propeht use for this purpose? 12. If we sneeze when we are readib Qur'an, what should we do? If another person sneezes when we are reading it, do we need to say the blessings of Allah on him? 13. "I stidied medicine in Pakistan. Now I am hanging here, working in the laundry. Is there any sin in hanging here, not utilyzing the knowledge and servin to my country men there?" 14. Were there special and organized tabligh and dawa missions during the time of the Prophet? 15. I am a new muslim. Is halal for me to serve the meat of the pig when I am asked by my parents? 16. Is it mandatory to say salam to a person who deals with interest and banking? 17. When some one shakes the hands with other people, whose right, his or their, he is supposed to follow? 18. There are many immigrants in this country who came from Southy. I am from North. Is it jaiz for me to say I am from South too? 19. Did any sahabi keep a dog? XVII. Schools of Thought : 1. What are the authority of madhabs in Islam? 2. Are their rules in any way binding? 3. How do you explain the view that some of the imams of madhhabs were not faqihs, some were not muhaddiths and some were not mufassirs, still they maitain the position of being conceived as perfect imams? XVIII. Qira'ah and Tajwid : 1. What is the hukm of qira'ah of Qur'an in Arabic? 2. Is tajwid necessary to be observed? 3. Is wudu necessary in reciting or touching the Qur'an? 4. "I am running a restaurant and listening to Qur'an. But I need to speak. Which one is better to run the tape and listen orto switch it off?" 5. " I want to let the flyers with basmalah and ayahs print. But the printers presumably are not clean. They are non-muslim. Is it allowed to let them print?" 6. What are the meanings of the rumuz in Qur'an? 7. Are there different ways of recitation of Qur'an? 8. Can one make sajdah of tilawah facing tto the direction other than qiblah? 9. What is the hukm of approaching to someone and shaking the hands when he is reading Qur'an? 10. What are the hukm and artguments about the recitation of three Surahs al-Ikhlas and al-Fatiha? 11. Is it allowed to use the glue in which fat of the pig is ingredient to repair the cover of the Qur'an? 12. What do you say about sending the eid cards on which verses from Qur'an are written by the post? 13. Is reading the translation of Qur'an rewarded and is retation of Qur'an without understanding rewardable too? 14. How can I know abrogated ayahs in Qur'an? 15. Is the recitation of al-Fatiha at the end of recitation of Qur'an sunnah? 16. A christin woman died. She had a muslim daughter from her previous marriage to a muslim man. Her muslim friends want to read Qur'an in her funeral to comfort her muslim daughter. Is it permissible? 17. In Jordan people read all together Surah al-Qalam in the home of a decedent, then they stand up and read three times "subhana Allahi wal hamdu lillahi wa la ilaha illa Allahu wa Allahu Akbar instead performing sajdah al-tilawah. Do you comment on that? XIX. Islamic History: 1. Did Jesus Christ have a brother?' 2. Were the desciples ot the Jesus Christ real muslims? 3. Did Mary marry and had children 106