Financial transactions
Riba
Halal and haram
Prohibitions and alternatives
Being told that a loved one’s ventilator may be switched off is tough and daunting. No one envies the person who has to make such a decision, yet with the medical technology now available, it is a situation that many families find themselves facing. The Islamic ruling depends on why the ventilator is being withdrawn…
In general, zakat should not be used to pay a deceased person’s burial expenses directly, even if the deceased was zakat-eligible during their lifetime. The main reason is that most scholars stipulate that zakat must involve transferring ownership (tamlik) to a living recipient who is one of the eight categories mentioned in Surah al-Tawbah (9:60)….
The difference between conventional and Islamic mortgages For Muslims, one of the greatest financial challenges of our time, is purchasing a home without falling into riba (interest), which is strictly prohibited in Islam. Conventional mortgages are based on interest-bearing loans, while Islamic banks and financial institutions offer alternatives that aim to comply with Shariah. Among…
It is permissible to give zakat to someone who is in debt with interest – they are considered among the debtors entitled to receive zakat, provided that they are sincere in their intention to repay and have repented from dealing in riba.
Many people experience passing doubts in worship. A person may wonder whether their wudu is still valid, whether they pronounced a letter correctly in al-Fatihah, whether they made a mistake in salah, or whether they chose the correct scholarly opinion. For most people, the doubt comes and goes. They continue and move on. For some…
When someone is close to death, it is a difficult time for their loved ones – in addition to feeling the pain of losing someone dear to them, they may be uncertain about what to do practically. It is natural that one wishes to do everything they can to ease their passing, and ensure that…
Facing the qiblah is an essential condition of a valid salah. It is a requirement mentioned clearly in the Quran. Allah says: فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ “So turn your face towards al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you are, turn your faces towards it.” (Surat al-Baqarah 2:144) This command…
Performing wudu with a bandage or cast If you have an injury on a body part that must normally be washed in wudu, then the ruling depends on what will cause harm. Washing, wiping with wet hands or tayammum over the body part The first option is washing the area if the cast or bandage…
Burying a foetus in Islam The loss of a foetus is one of the most painful experiences a family can go through. The rulings on how to bury the foetus differ according to the stage of pregnancy and whether the baby showed signs of life after delivery. The basis for the 120-day distinction A key…
Raising the hands in supplication is firmly established in the Sunnah. There are many hadith which mention this. The Prophet ﷺ said: عَنْ سَلْمَانَ الْفَارِسِيِّ رضي الله عنه قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى حَيِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ يَسْتَحْيِي مِنْ عَبْدِهِ إِذَا رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَرُدَّهُمَا صِفْرًا “Your Lord is Ever-Living, Most Generous….
Eid salah is performed twice a year at Eid al-Fitr (after completing the month of Ramadan) and at Eid al-Adha (after Hajj) as a way of expressing gratitude to Allah for enabling us to worship Him. The majority of scholars consider Eid salah to be highly emphasised (Sunnah Mu’akkadah), while others (such as the Hanafi…
Definition of sujud ash-shukr – the prostration of gratitude The definition of sujud ash-shukr is a single prostration performed out of gratitude to Allah for a favour received or for the removal of harm. It is connected to shukr, thankfulness to Allah, either because He granted you something pleasing or because He protected you from…
Many people worry about visiting the dentist during Ramadan. With water sprays, rinsing, and possible bleeding, it is natural to ask: Will this break my fast? The simple answer is: yes, you can have dental treatment while fasting, as long as you do not swallow anything. Does dental treatment break the fast? Dental procedures such…
A simple guide to working out your zakat Checklist identify the date you first reached nisab (your zakat start date) one lunar year later, total your zakatable assets (cash, gold/silver, shares as applicable, business inventory as applicable) subtract immediate debts that are actually due (and apply your chosen view on longer-term debts consistently) if you…
The general principle of prompt burial The starting principle in Islamic law is that the deceased should be buried without unnecessary delay. The Prophet ﷺ said: «أَسْرِعُوا بِالْجَنَازَةِ» “Hasten with the funeral.” (Agreed upon) This hadith establishes that burial should not be postponed without need. The scholars understood from this that delaying burial for emotional…