If my clothes are impure and I can’t change them, should I miss salah or not?
Is it permissible to pray in impure clothes out of necessity (such as the clothes on which urine has fallen, if one cannot change one’s clothes and will end up missing the salah? Salah...
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What is the etiquette of entering and leaving mosque?
It is recommended to recite the dua Allaahum-maf-taḥ lee abwaaba rahmatikO Allah, Open for me the gates of Your Mercy. (Muslim and Abu Dawud) Praying two rakahs when entering the mosque: Tahiyyat al-Masjid It...
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Is it necessary to recite bismillah before reciting a surah?
Reciting the bismillah ‘Bismillah’ literally means that we start our action seeking help and blessings through the name of Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Every important action started without bismillah is...
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What is the wisdom behind doing 7 tawaf?
Imam Ghazali who was a great theologian and usuli has written brilliantly about usul al fiqh, says 99% of rulings come with ‘ila’ – the explanation of the wisdom behind them, but there is...
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Fasting outside Ramadan. Can you fast on a Friday alone?
Recommended fasts In general, as per the sunnah of the Prophet (peace be on him) it is recommended to fast on Mondays and Thursdays and the three white days i.e. the days of the...
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What should you do if isha is past your child’s bedtime?
In the summer when the days are very long and the nights are short, isha is often past a child’s bedtime and it is tricky to wake them up for isha and then again...
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Do women have to cover their feet? What is the awrah?
Are feet considered to be part of a woman’s awrah? Are women permitted to wear sandals? There are two opinions on this. The Maliki and Shafi schools of thought consider it is necessary for...
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How much is fidyah? And how much is kaffarah?
Fasting is an obligation for all Muslim believers, as ordained by Allah in Surat al-Baqarah: أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۚ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ...
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Shab-e-barat – should you perform extra worship on 15th Sha’ban?
Is 15th Sha’ban, which is known as Shab-e-barat in South Asia important? The Prophet (peace be on him) said that Allah grants forgiveness during the night in the middle of Sha’ban. وَعَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى...
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Which surahs should I recite regularly?
The Prophet (peace be on him) was engaged in the remembrance of Allah throughout the day and night, either through dhikr or reciting the Quran or performing salah. What should we recite from the...
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Why did Allah originally command 50 prayers before reducing it to 5 prayers?
Anas ibn Malik reported: Fifty prayers were obligated upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when he was taken on his night journey. Then, it was reduced until it was set at...
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How do I perform Sujud Tilawah?
What is sajda tilawah? Sujud Tilawah is a single prostration which one makes after reciting certain ayahs of the Quran. These are marked with an arrow in the Quran. It can be performed within...
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Is it ok to do dhikr in the bathroom?
Firstly there is a difference between a bathroom and a toilet. Some bathrooms do not have a toilet in them. Here it is acceptable to say bismillah before you do your wudu. With regards...
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Do we really have free will when we are products of our environment and upbringing?
Those who start of life with an adverse upbringing, are much more likely to have bad outcomes. Those who abuse others, have often been abused themselves. Does this mean that we do not have...
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Can you combine salah?
The default position is to pray at the prescribed time. This is because Allah commanded us to pray at designated times. He did not say that we could pray all our salah for one...
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