Teaching Faith and Prayer
365 questions
What is the appropriate age to teach one's son Islam as a way of life, and what are the recommended books to start with?
Is it obligatory for someone suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder that affects her prayer and thoughts to ignore the shapes that appear to her as crosses or faces, and is she sinful if her gaze falls upon them or she involuntarily feels that they are speaking to her, and what should she do to overcome these thoughts?
What is the evidence for the innovation (bid‘ah) of saying “Taqabbal Allah” (May Allah accept [it]) after finishing the prayer, and who are the scholars who issued fatwas to that effect, and why is it considered an innovation even though it is a supplication (du‘aa’)?
How can children be encouraged to pray so that they perform it spontaneously, without compulsion?
Is it forbidden for a mother not to be proficient in reading and writing, and to frequently forget matters of prayer, given that she was unable to obtain an education in her childhood?
Does doubt about Islam invalidate prayer and good deeds?
Will I be sinful if I do not lead people in prayer, after being prevented by the Endowments Ministry from teaching, preaching, and delivering sermons, even though some have asked me to intercede with the Endowments Ministry and promise not to delve into certain religious issues?
What is the way to get rid of the fear of death and the anxiety it causes, knowing that I am a believer and pray every obligatory prayer on time?
What is the optimal course of action regarding a wife who does not observe prayer, nor does she adhere to her husband's repeated directives concerning interaction with men and wearing the niqab, in addition to her frequent remarks that suggest malice and dissatisfaction with the marriage, and what is incumbent upon the husband to do concerning all of this?
Why would the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ask Allah for steadfastness in religion by saying: "O Turner of hearts, make my heart steadfast upon Your religion," when it is impossible for him to stray? And how do we ask Allah for steadfastness upon the fitra, when it is already inherent within us?
Is joking about the Istikhara prayer considered a mockery of it that necessitates apostasy, and what are the implications of that?
What is the jurisprudence of priorities (fiqh al-awlawiyyat) and similar sciences that should be taught to children so they may grow up as worshippers of Allah and servants of His religion, and what are the qualities of a teacher I should seek, and how can these principles be instilled in youth given the limited time and irregular attendance?
Are the historical events cited by the Shaykh (such as the story of Sumayyah, Abu Jandal, the stance of the Prophet, peace be upon him, regarding the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, and giving to Safwan ibn Umayyah) intended to justify the scholars' failure to act in political situations? And is the truncation of these texts to alter their meaning considered an accusation of betrayal and surrender against the Prophet, peace be upon him?
Is intention a prerequisite for repentance from insulting religion, or are the Two Testimonies in the Adhan sufficient to expiate this sin?
What is the ruling on the marriage of a veiled woman to an irreligious man?
Is it permissible to believe that Allah brings together spouses who are compatible in faith, based on His saying: "Bad women are for bad men, and bad men are for bad women. And good women are for good men, and good men are for good women" and His saying: "They are varying ranks in the sight of Allah," and based on that, should one not reject an irreligious person if the girl herself is also irreligious?
What is the ruling on saying: "Allahumma salli 'ala Sayyidina Muhammad (O Allah, send blessings upon our Master Muhammad)" in the Ibrahimic prayers, and does the prayer of one who says it out of ignorance of the ruling become invalid?
Is one who prays Tarawih and leaves after eight rak'ahs, or before the Imam who prays twenty-one rak'ahs departs, considered to have observed qiyam al-layl, taking into account the hadith, "Whoever prays with the Imam until he departs, it is recorded for him that he observed qiyam al-layl"?
How can a woman rid herself of sexual obsessions that occur to her during prayer, and must she interrupt her prayer every time she experiences these obsessions?
Does touching patients with Down syndrome (Mongoloids) when teaching or playing with them invalidate ablution, knowing that they are not of sound mind?
Is crying sometimes during prayer, or merely making supplication sometimes, or experiencing humility with tears or trembling or a sense of closeness to God once or twice daily, considered evidence of weak faith?
Will Allah accept the repentance of a young man who believed in Him and His Messenger, then was afflicted by doubts about existence, which led to his sporadic prayer, then uttered a statement that is feared to be an insult to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) out of ignorance of the ruling, and he is now content with faith?
How do I know that God is pleased with me and has forgiven me, and is it permissible to stay up late awaiting the Fajr prayer for fear of missing it?
What should be said to a young man who has been negatively affected by the rulings of Islamic Sharia – especially the punishment of stoning – leading him to abandon prayer and neglect his religious duties, yet his heart inclines towards Islam when reading verses about scientific miracles?