What is customary is for us to say “Blessings and peace of Allah be upon him (sall Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)” specifically for our Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him); is it permissible to offer this supplication with this wording for other Prophets? Who are the only ones for whom the following phrases are to be used: may Allah be pleased with him (radiya Allahu ‘anhu), may Allah have mercy on him (rahimahu Allah), may Allah keep him safe (sallamahu Allah)? Is it permissible to offer supplication for a great scholar who strove all his life to call people to Allah and His Messenger, such as Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz and other, similar contemporary scholars, when they die, by saying “may Allah be pleased with him” or “peace be upon him”?

According to the Quran and/or Islamic traditions, why did God create mankind?

I have heard that there is a certain attitude that the Muslim should adopt if he faces a time of fitnah (tribulation). What is the attitude towards fitnah?.

Does a person have to do istinjaa’ (wash the private parts with water) every time he wants to do wudoo’?

Did everyone on earth – apart from those who were with Nooh on board the ark – drown when Allah sent the flood? Can everyone who is on earth now be regarded as descendants of those who were on board the ark (ship)?

How do we as Muslims living in the west maintain an Islamic Education for our children. Primary and secondary education up to the age of 15/16 may be provided in Muslim schools (which are also very expensive), but as for Higher Education there is no such Islamic Institute. 

Even on the secondary school level on the agenda of Curriculum, we do not have books that deal with the branches of knowledge that are available in secular institutes, such as; Political science, Sociology, Psychology, Pedagogy. Please advise on how we should go about bringing about an Islamic Education system for our Youth in the west (bearing in mind that it is near impossible for us to migrate to Arab/Muslim countries because of the restrictions on immigration etc.).

I have embraced Islam – praise be to Allah – and I have three children; I come from a Christian family that is tolerant of my being Muslim. My question is: how can I introduce Islam to my children, one of whom is eleven years old, the other is eight years old, and my daughter is five years old, without forcing them?

Salam Alaykum shaykh. I have a friend who have accepted Islam not long ago. He asks if it is allowed for him that his father who is not a Muslim, buys a house With a loan based on ribaa (usury/interest). And then my friend will buy the house from his father by monthly installment, without ribaa (usury/interest)?

Is it permissible to eat food that is distributed on the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)? Some people quote as evidence the idea that because Abu Lahb set free a slave woman on the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), Allaah reduced the torment for him on that day.

There is a saying that treating people equally unfairly is justice; some people attribute this to the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and some regard it as if it is a basic principle that cannot be changed. What is the Islamic ruling or how sound is this saying?.

What is the rate of Zakaat al-Fitr? Is it permissible to give it after the Eid Prayer? Is it permissible to give Zakaat al-Fitr in cash?