Virginity and bleeding

What should a husband do if he discovers on the wedding night that his wife is not a virgin because she did not bleed?

Sheikh Salman al-Oadah Failure to bleed on the first night is not a sign of loss of virginity, nor is it recognized as such in Islamic Law. There are numerous reasons why a woman might not bleed. A percentage of women do not bleed at all. Some women bleed ever so slightly that it avoids ... Continue Reading

Speaking to 'spirits'

I would like to ask you about my friends who claim they can call spirits. Is it possibly true? If it is, what is really going on?

Sheikh Rashîd al-Hasan, professor at King Khâlid University   If they are speaking the truth, then they are communicating with Jinn and invoking them. This is what practitioners of magic do. They rely on Jinn to fulfill their needs and to bring benefit or harm to others. In ... Continue Reading

Sleep paralysis is not a Jinn attack

Our daughter is having strange experiences during sleep. She complains of feeling something pressing down on her chest which paralyzes her entire body. She cannot even speak. This stops and starts throughout the night. It happens so frequently that she has become depressed and angry. We feel that this is an attack from the Jinn and we want to know what she can do about it.

The Scientific Research Committee - IslamToday.net   These symptoms should not be construed as an attack from the Jinn. This is a very common problem. It is a condition known as sleep paralysis (SP). Sleep paralysis is defined as a condition in which someone, usually lying in a supine ... Continue Reading

Who says Islam prohibits adoption?

Why does Islam prohibit adoption? Adoption is a good thing. It provides a home, a set of parents, and a loving family to children who otherwise would grow up without such blessings. Why does Islam prohibit children who have no one from belonging to a family?
 

Answered by The Fatwa Department Research Committee - chaired by Sheikh `Abd al-Wahhâb al-Turayrî   The question of adoption in Islam is one that is very often misunderstood. Islam does not prohibit adoption. Rather, Islam provides teachings to allow adoption while, at the ... Continue Reading

Colorful clothing for women

Can you tell me the ruling on women wearing a red or yellow `abâyah? Does she have to wear black?
 

Answer from Sheikh Riyâd al-Musaymîrî, professor at al-Imâm University in Riyadh There are no restrictions in Islamic Law regarding the colors and patterns of women’s clothing. A woman should only avoid colors that are unusual or bizarre and that consequently ... Continue Reading

Divorcing a woman during her menses

Is it permissible to issue a pronouncement of divorce on a woman during her menses? Is such a divorce valid?

Sheikh `Abd al-Wahhâb al-Turayrî, former professor at al-Imâm University in Riyadh It is an act of disobedience and an unlawful innovation for a man to divorce a woman during her menses. Such an act is in direct contradiction to the Prophet’s teachings. The Prophet ... Continue Reading

Unbelievers and their fate in the afterlife

Are Christian and Jewish lay people the same as their clergy and religious scholars? Are they also unbelievers, even though they are People of the Book and do not have the knowledge that their religious leaders have? Are they condemned to Hell for their not believing in Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)?

Answer from Sheikh Khâlid al-Sayf, professor at al-Imâm University   Ever since Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent with the Message, all people who do not believe that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is God's Messenger to all humanity are classified as unbelievers with ... Continue Reading

Judge can nullify marriage in a case where the husband refuses to comply

If a woman wants a khul` separation because of her husband’s neglect and bad treatment, and he refuses to grant her request, can the judge force him to grant her a khul`?
 

Sheikh Hânî al-Jubayr, judge at the Jeddah Supreme Court A khul` separation takes place by agreement between the husband and the wife. However, if a woman’s life with her husband becomes unbearable for some reason and her husband refuses to divorce her willingly or accept a ... Continue Reading

Keeping cats as pets

Al-Salâm `Alaykum. Can a Muslim keep a cat as a pet?
 

Al-Salâm `Alaykum wa Rahmah Allah wa Barakâtuh. It is permissible to keep a cat as a pet. The Prophet (peace be upon him) described cats in the following matter: “They are among those male and female creatures who live in our attendance.” [Sunan Abî ... Continue Reading

Teaching the Quran for a salary

Is it allowed in Islam to accept money for teaching the Qur’ân?

Answered by Sheikh Riyâd al-Musaymîrî, professor at al-Imâm University in Riyadh Yes, it is permissible to accept money for teaching Qur’ân, particularly in case of need. In Sahîh al-Bukhârî [5737] it is related that the Prophet (peace be ... Continue Reading

Borrowing in dollars & paying off debt in another currency

I am a South African who used to study in the United States. When I was studying, I borrowed $6000 US from another South African. We are both back in South Africa now, and it is more convenient for both of us if I pay him back I South African rands. Is this allowed?
 

Answered by Sheikh `Abd al-Hakîm Balmahdî, professor at al-Imâm Islamic University, Riyadh   This question was confronted at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and His Companions, since they had two currency standards at the time: the golddinar and the silver ... Continue Reading

Using dishes that may have been formerly used to cook pork

Can we use dishes that non-Muslims had formerly used to cook pork or other unlawfully slaughtered meat or used to eat such meat from? I ask in reference to the hadith about the dishes of the people of the Book: "Do not eat from them unless you do not find anything else to eat from. In that case, wash them and eat from them.”
 

Answered by Sheikh Salman al-Oadah This is an authentic hadîth related in Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim. Abû Tha`labah al-Khushanî said to Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him): "We come from a land populated by the People of the ... Continue Reading