The Muslim Ummah today is spread around the world. There are over 60 countries with Muslim majorities while many Muslims also live as minorities on all inhabited continents. Some Muslim minority communities are larger than the populations of many Muslim majority countries. China has over twenty million Muslims and France has over five million. These communities are larger than the populations of some Muslim countries in the Middle East such as Ba... Continue reading

Praise be to Allaah. It is permissible for a menstruating woman to recite Qur’aan according to the more correct scholarly opinion, especially if she needs to do that for fear of forgetting (what she had memorised), or to study for a test, or to seek healing thereby, on condition that she does not touch it, because no one should touch it except one who is in a state of purity. If she needs to read from the ... Continue reading

Praise be to Allaah. Islamic duties are not obligatory for a boy until after he reaches puberty, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The Pen has been lifted from three: from the insane one who has lost his mind until he comes to his senses; from the sleeper until he wakes up; and from the child until he reaches puberty.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4399; classed as saheeh ... Continue reading

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  Allah (Glory be to Him) explains in the Quran that people are busy competing with each other in piling up worldly things, until they reach the graves[1]. He (glory be to Him) also says that people will come to know when they see the hellfire for themselves and are asked about every luxury and delight that they enjoyed in the life of this world[2]. In another part of the Quran Allah (The Most high) asks ‘Oh Mankind, what has made you forget you... Continue reading

Praise be to Allaah.   Fasting in Ramadaan is one of the pillars on which Islam is built. Allaah tells us that He has prescribed it for the believers of this ummah [nation], as He prescribed it for those who came before them. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):  “O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Mu... Continue reading

Praise be to Allaah.   It was narrated that Zayd ibn Khaalid al-Juhani said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever gives iftaar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the reward of the fasting person in the slightest.”   Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 807; Ibn Maajah, 1746. Classed as saheeh by Ibn Hibaan, 8/216 and by al-Albaani i... Continue reading

Praise be to Allaah. You have done very well to ask this question; it indicates that you are keen to make sure that your acts of worship do not go to waste or be reduced because of these widespread sins.  We should all remember that the real meaning of fasting is not only giving up food and drink, rather Allaah, may He be exalted, has enjoined fasting in order that we may attain piety (taqwa).... Continue reading

Praise be to Allaah.   The Ramadaan fast and other acts of worship are not valid unless accompanied by the proper intention, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Actions are but by intentions, and everyone shall have but that which he intended…” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1; Muslim, 1907)  The intention is subject to the condition that it be made at night, before the dawn comes... Continue reading

Praise be to Allaah. The majority of scholars are of the view that sighting the new moon of Ramadaan on the first night of the month is a communal obligation, and if all the people fail to do it then they are sinning. This is also the Hanafi view.  Some of the fuqaha’ were of the view that moon sighting is mustahabb.  It says in Majma’ al-Anhaar (1/283): It is a communal obliga... Continue reading