Manners & Character
Character questions are about how a person behaves when nobody is enforcing anything. This topic covers speech and backbiting, anger and patience, honesty and promises, neighbors and guests, and parents and elders. Readers ask where a joke becomes a slight, what a promise binds them to, and how to keep a friendship honestly. Every answer here is a sourced summary of a fatwa published on Ftawy, with the full ruling one tap away. Start with speech and backbiting if your question is about something you said.
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Questions · 2,316 questions
Is it permissible for a worshiper to park his car near homes close to the mosque, thereby inconveniencing their residents from exiting at prayer time, especially if the street is crowded or dangerous, under the pretext of not missing the prayer, and will his prayer be accepted then?
Are the aforementioned actions and feelings—such as jealousy, ridiculing a friend who is engaged, and thinking about her husband marrying the questioner's sister after learning about their problems—considered envy, especially since the questioner is remorseful and prays for her friend?
What is the meaning of "Al-Mu'ayyanah" and what is the explanation of the Hadith: "Were it not that dogs are a nation among nations, I would have commanded the killing of every black, utterly black dog, so kill Al-Mu'ayyanah among dogs, for it is the accursed from among the jinn"?
How can I deal with my father's unjustified rejection of my engagement to a young man I love and who is religious and of good character, especially since I have sought God's guidance through Istikhara?
Should the questioner reject a righteous, married man who proposed to her, out of fear of how Egyptian society and the first wife might view her, even though she felt at ease after performing Istikhara prayer, knowing that she is a divorcee in her forties? And would she be sinful if she refused, and what is the legitimate Islamic ruling on this matter?
Does the ruling of "whoever abandons his brother" apply to one who apologized to her friends for a mistake, but they did not accept the apology, and does this prevent her from receiving forgiveness?
Is it permissible to supplicate against and curse a specific transgressor, as well as a specific disbeliever, and does this include the use of vulgar language such as "you donkey" and "you dog"?
Are there multiple repentances for a habitual drunkard, after which God becomes wrathful with him? And what is the ruling on ridiculing matters of religion to make others laugh?
Is lying to a chronically ill patient, such as telling him: "Do not fear, I know someone whom Allah cured of your very same illness," considered permissible lying?
How can a girl who has repented from repeated adultery with a man who broke his promise to marry her, make a sincere repentance while keeping the matter a secret, and does the man bear part of the sin?
1. What is the ruling on this young man's actions of misleading and deceiving his friends by going to the library to meet girls? And is his action considered lying, deception, or misleading? And what is the ruling on his claim of going to study with a girl while his original intention is not studying? 2. When is lying permissible in Islam? 3. Is it permissible for this young man to continue with charitable projects with girls only, under the pretext that he does not trust young men? And is it permissible for him to meet alone with them for this reason? 4. Is it permissible for a young man to undertake a charitable or religious project with girls only under certain circumstances? 5. What is the response to the young man's statement, "Whoever adds me on Facebook enters Paradise"? And what is the extent of the danger of this phrase from a legal (Sharia) perspective? 6. Is a young man's visit to a specific girl in her home after her father's invitation to him, under the pretext of congratulating her on 'Umrah, forbidden by Sharia? 7. What is the Sharia ruling on a young man discussing private matters such as marital problems and what happens on the wedding night with his female colleagues? 8. Is a young man paying university tuition fees without attending classes considered extravagance?
Is "Bad manners spoil deeds" a Hadith? What is its درجه (degree/grading)? How do bad manners spoil deeds? And what is the difference between deeds being spoiled and deeds being annulled (frustrated)?
Is the non-occurrence of the awaited matter a consequence of masturbating after swearing with the words, "By God, O Lord, if I do it again, then do not fulfill for me anything I was awaiting its occurrence"? Is expiation due for this oath? And what is the way to achieve what is desired?
Is it considered forbidden hypocrisy in Islam to be courteous to people whom I cannot bear to sit with due to actions or characteristics they display?
What is the meaning of the Prophet's saying, peace and blessings be upon him: "If he is given, he is thankful; if he is tried, he is patient; and if he is angry, he forgives," in the explanation of the hadith?
What is the ruling on one who says: "May its history be cursed"?
What are tale-bearing (namima) and backbiting (ghiba)? Is it considered tale-bearing to relay bad things about a person while mentioning their name, or is it also considered tale-bearing without mentioning their name? And is speaking about a person's flaws in the presence of someone who is already aware of them considered backbiting?
Am I sinful for giving away half a book that was requested of me, when I had forgotten that the teacher entrusted me not to give it to anyone?
Are those who exchange acquittals considered sinful?
Is a sister's prayer to be engaged to the same young man the questioner intends to be engaged to considered a transgressing prayer? Does it have any bearing on the difficulty of the questioner's engagement? And what should she do about it?
What is the ruling on describing creatures as "hideous" or people as "ugly," even though all of Allah's creation is beautiful?
To what extent are the following hadiths authentic: "There are three who call upon Allah, but their prayers are not answered: a man who had a ill-mannered wife but did not divorce her..." and "Whoever bears patiently the ill manners of his wife, Allah will grant him a reward like that which He granted His Prophet Ayyub (Job), peace be upon him"? And how can these two be reconciled in the case of a husband who bears patiently with his ill-mannered wife?
What should I do after I lied to a young man, telling him that my friend he is speaking with tells his friends about him, even though I don't know him or his name, and then I repented from that?
What is the ruling on divorcing a thin wife whose physique causes her husband to be repulsed by her, leading to marital problems and a lack of desire? And is the husband's continued presence with her considered an injustice to her, especially since it sometimes results in her humiliation due to his repression?