Q) A customer brings
back an item for a refund. Is it necessary for the shopkeeper to give a
refund, or can he refuse to do so?
A) The shopkeeper is not
obliged to accept the return, provided there is no defect in the item.
However, from a moral point of view, it is very rewardful to give the customer
a refund. Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have
said: “Whosoever cancels the sale for a buyer who regrets his purchase
(i.e. gives him a refund), Allah will cancel out his sins for him on the Day
of Judgement.” (Faizul-Qadeer) (Insha-Allah, in a later publication we
shall outline the defects that warrant a refund)
Q) Is it permissible
to buy a vehicle on hire purchase?
A) It is permissible to buy a
vehicle or any lawful item on terms whereby a deposit is paid and then fixed
monthly instalments for a specified number of months are allocated. This form
of purchase is lawful in Shariah event though the cash price may differ. The
condition is, firstly, that the monthly instalments must be fixed and must not
fluctuate according to the rise and decline in interests rates, and secondly
the repayment period must be known in advance (such as 46 months, etc.). When
these conditions are met, the transaction is lawful.
Q) Is zakaat payable
on interest money?
A) If the interest money has
been mixed with other halaal money, and the latter is greater in amount, then
zakaat is waajib on the entire sum. If the interest money is kept separately,
zakaat will not be waajib.
Q) Can interest money
be used to pay taxes, traffic fines, etc., for oneself or for someone else?
A) You may utilise this or
any other interest money to pay taxes for yourself or someone else. Interest
money may also be diverted to income tax, levies, duties, traffic fines, and
for poor Muslims. Besides this there is no other avenue for the expenditure of
interest money.
Q) What is the
meaning of a “falling star”?
A) A falling start is
actually a shooting star. According to the hadith these stars are aimed at
shaytaan and jinn who attempt to eavesdrop on heavenly discussions. There is
also a report which states that stars that appear to be falling are actually
making sujood to Almighty Allah.
Q) What is the
meaning of the Arabic term ‘Muhtaram’?
A) ‘Muhtaram’ means “respect”
or “honoured”. This term is used in Arabic and Urdu.
Q) Is there any harm
in receiving treatment from a non-Muslim doctor?
A) It is permissible for a
Muslim to receive treatment from a non-Muslims doctor.
Q) Can someone who
does not perform five times daily Salah, does not fast in the month of
Ramadhan, be called a Muslim?
A) A person who does not fast
or perform Salah is a big sinner. But if he recites the Kalima of Islam he or
she still remains a Muslim. Through missing Salah or Fast one becomes a
faasiq, not a Kaafir.
Q) How do I reply to
a non-Muslim if he says: Assalaamu Alaikum?
A) If a non-Muslim greets you
with “Assalaamu Alaikum”, you should reply by saying: “Hadaakallah”
– which means – May Allah guide you to Islam. It is not permissible to
reply with “wa Alaikum Salaam”, as one replies to a Muslim.
Q) What does Islam
say about watching educational programs on TV, e.g. news, documentaries,
programs of clean fun, etc., or programs devoid of nudity, vulgar language?
A) Television is haraam for a
number of reasons, such as photography, music, nudity, singing, portraying of
haraam scenes, distracting people from the remembrance of Allah, causing
neglect of Salah, to name just a few. If a few reasons are absent, the
remaining reasons are still sufficient grounds for non-permissibility. Hence
educational programs and news still have photography and music, and may also
be distracting a Muslim from more important duties. Then again, watching
educational programs and news creates an attachment to the box, which later on
lures one towards other programs of greater prohibition. As for clean fun, if
this means comedies, then such behaviour has also specifically been prohibited
in Islam.
Q) Is listening to
qawali and instrumental music permissible?
A) Musical instruments in
particular have been severely condemned in the hadith shareef. Rasoolullah sallallahu
alaihi wasallam said that he was sent by Allah to destroy musical
instruments. Therefore, instrumental music even unaccompanied by singing is
also haraam. The same applies to qawali, which may be even more serious since
such singing contains so-called Deeni material, which may just deceive
ignorant people into listening to such songs without guilt.
Q) Is it permissible
have fish and milk together in one meal? What about fish and eggs?
A) It does appear in the
kitabs that fish should not be consumed together with milk. This is not a Shar’ee
ruling, but a medical advice. So if one does eat the two together, it will not
be a sin. But if one abstains for medical reasons, this is also allowed.
Although it would be better not to eat like this. The same applies to eating
fish and eggs.
Q) Does an adopted
child have any rights in the estate of the foster parents? Can that child
marry any of the children of its foster parents?
A) There is no family or
blood ties that develop through adoption. Hence, an adopted child will not
inherit from the foster parents. Such a child has to observe hijaab
from members of the opposite sex in that family upon becoming baalig, and
marriage will obviously be permissible between them. On the same principle,
the foster parents may make a wasiyyat for such a child, since he or she is
not a normal heir.
Q) During Hajj, at
Minah, will it be permissible for anyone (male or female, sick or healthy) to
pelt the jamaraat before zawaal?
A) It is not permissible to
pelt before zawaal. Those who are so old or ill that they cannot walk to the
jamaraat, may depute another to throw on their behalf. For women it is
preferable that they pelt at night when most certainly the crowds are greatly
reduced allowing for easier throwing. The same will apply to old or ill people
who are able to walk to the jamaraat, but are afraid of the crowds.
They too should pelt at night. All hujjaaj make this arrangement for their
weak ones and to date it has worked perfectly. Remember, deputing another is
only permitted when one is unable to walk to the jamaraat, be it during the
day or at night.
Q) Will a persons
namaaz be valid if read without a topi on the head or wearing a short sleeved
shirt?
A) It is makrooh for a person
to read namaaz without a topi or with short sleeves, although the salaah is
valid. The Jurists of Islam have stated that if this is done out of disdain
and contempt for the topi, it can lead to kufr. It is therefore imperative
that one offering salaah pay special attention to these seemingly small
sunnats.
Q) Can I sell my
business to a non-Muslim who will use it for haraam purposes, i.e. I have a
fast food business and he will be selling pork.
A) If you are selling the
business outright, not leasing, then it will be permissible to sell to a
kaafir. What he does in that premises after it becomes his property, will not
affect the former owner. Therefore, in your case the ruling will be one of
permissibility.
Q) Wearing clothes
which fit tightly around the body curves, etc. are clearly discernible, such
as leotards (for women) or thermal underwear or tights etc. Does this affect
the permissibility or validity of the namaaz?
A) No, salaah is valid,
although it is Makrooh Tahreemi to wear such garments.
And Allah knows best.
-
To search for, or to expose the fault of someone, is
an extremely evil quality.
-
Do not become angry over every mishap.
-
The one who asks from Allah is never deprived.
-
Be fond of seclusion.
Extracted from: Words of Worth (Hazrat Maseehul
Ummat)
