It has become common, of late, for people to recite the Qur'ân in a style that comprises a lot of affected weeping. Their recitation loses its sweetness as a consequence. It is closer to wailing than to a recitation. What do Islamic teachings say about this approach to reciting the Qur'ân?

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?

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)?

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

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?
 

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

Is it permissible for men and women to perform prayer while wearing tight clothes?
 

What is the ruling on fasting six days of Shawwaal? Is it waajib (obligatory)?

A young man proposed to a girl, but when the marriage contract was done, the girl’s father had a disagreement with his daughter’s fiancé, and refused to do the marriage contract. But the girl, her mother and her brother wanted the marriage to go ahead, so they left their house and rented an apartment, and they left the father who refused to do the marriage contract, and the marriage contract was done; the maternal uncle of the girl was the one who acted as her guardian (wali) in this marriage contract, in the presence of her brother. They argued that the father does not pray and they did not want him to be the wali of his daughter. How valid is this marriage contract?

One of the women is saying that if a pregnant woman reads Soorat az-Zalzalah, the foetus will be miscarried because of reading this soorah. She also says that if she goes for ruqyah as prescribed in Islam, she had to tell the raaqi that she is pregnant so that he can avoid reciting Soorat az-Zalzalah over her, so that the foetus will not be miscarried. Is this true? May Allah reward you with the best of rewards and benefit the ummah by means of you.

What is the ruling on buying and selling shares? Please note that some scholars regard shares from all companies as haraam. We hope that you can explain.

In our community in India, little girls are given kunyahs such as Umm Haani’ and Umm Salamah. Is this acceptable?