Teaching Faith and Prayer
365 questions
Is it legislated for a Muslim residing in his home – where he cannot see the crescent moon – to recite the supplication for sighting the crescent moon?
What is the ruling on participating in forwarding circulating messages via BlackBerry that contain unverified hadiths and information, and on responding to requests to disseminate them that use phrases such as, "Whoever bridles knowledge, Allah will bridle him," or "I implore you to send it"?
How can the statement of the author of "Al-Mughni" and "Al-Rawd al-Murabba'" regarding a disbeliever embracing Islam by performing prayer be reconciled, and do scholars differ on this issue?
What is the ruling on one who is ignorant of the application of the principle of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" in Islam, believing it to be restricted to the law of our master Moses, peace be upon him, despite living among Muslims?
How can one overcome the feeling that Islam is difficult to apply, especially regarding commitment to Fajr prayer and lowering the gaze?
Is someone who utters a word of shirk to himself—without uttering it aloud—considered a mushrik due to waswas, and is there a behavioral treatment that can be prescribed for a chronic obsessive-compulsive disorder, especially with the fear of falling into shirk, and the presence of other waswas related to progeny, prayer, and ablution?
Is a young man's lack of success in marrying a committed woman for three years—despite his financial capability, diligent search, and performing Istikhara (prayer for guidance)—considered a trial and a test from Allah, and what should he do about it?
Will a person be held accountable for their feelings and emotions, such as an unwillingness to pray, ignoring playing with siblings, and preferring to sit alone, especially with the presence of intrusive thoughts during prayer, ablution, and matters of faith, as well as difficult psychological states and a detachment from reality?
What should a wife do with her husband who does not maintain prayer and lies about performing it, and is it permissible for her to refuse him or seek a divorce as a means of pressure on him?
How can one deal with a 70-year-old father who does not pray, and argues with the intercession of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and is very angry and unapproachable for discussion? And would he be considered a disbeliever if he dies in this state?
Is the husband obligated to change his job to avoid temptation? Is his income unlawful if he remains in it? Is the wife entitled to seek divorce from him for his refusal to emigrate or teach in a Muslim country that observes Sharia regulations?
How can an elderly foreign woman, a recent convert to Islam, be taught how to pray, considering that she cannot memorize the Quran correctly, there is no mosque near her, she does not remember the number of rak'ahs and prostrations or their specific invocations, and she does not reside in the questioner's country?
How do we respond to those who say that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded us to send blessings upon him out of his need for it or for fame?
Can all the daily actions of a Muslim, including permissible ones such as sleeping, playing, and recreation, be considered worship and obedience to Allah if he intends thereby the Face of Allah, or is obedience restricted to obligatory duties and specified acts of worship? And will a Muslim be rewarded for these actions if they do not distract him from his obligations?
How can one convince and awaken his wife for Fajr prayer on time, knowing that she is negligent and does not get up despite attempts, due to the influence of Satan?
If, when in a four-rak'ah prayer, a worshiper doubts whether the tashahhud is the first or the second, should he base his decision on the greater number, or on the lesser number as a precaution?
Is a wife considered to be denying what is known to be an essential tenet of the religion if she tells her husband, "You are not responsible for me before Allah," despite her knowledge of his responsibility for her? And is her prayer valid if her clothes describe her body during bowing and prostration? And how should the husband deal with her?
How is the Hadith of the one who prays badly to be understood, in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught duties [wājibāt] over pillars [arkān], and how can one refute the Hanbalis’ reasoning, and is the wording in the Hadith an addition that is not considered because it was not narrated in the Two Sahihs?
What is the difference between a Muslim and a believer (mu'min)? And is a woman who prays, fasts, and performs good deeds, despite having some sins like intermingling (ikhtilat), backbiting (gheeba), and displaying her adornments (tabarruj), considered a believer (mu'min) or a disobedient Muslim? And what are the levels of faith (iman)?
Is reading a book on the science of body language that includes a section on soothsayers and diviners, without believing what is stated therein from the sayings of the soothsayers, considered going to them? And does that entail the non-acceptance of prayer for forty days?
Is one who intentionally misses the eclipse prayer (salat al-kusuf and khusuf) sinful, and is he considered weak in faith?
How can the statement that "by the right of your Prophet or by the right of so-and-so" is forbidden because it is an oath by other than Allah be reconciled with the hadith: "I ask You by the right of those who walk towards You and by the right of those who ask You"?
What is the means to reach the rank of one who sees Allah morning and evening in Paradise?
Does doubled Tasbeeh suffice over regular Dhikr, or is it better to combine them?