What is mahr? Mahr is the obligation that the groom gives to the bride at the time of marriage. It is a sum of money or other property, which becomes payable by the husband to the wife as part of the marriage contact (nikkah). It is commanded in the Qur’an: “And give the women [upon…
According to the majority of scholars: It is not permissible for a Zakat institution to take ownership of the Zakat for itself. The Zakat remains the property of the payer until it is delivered to one of the eight eligible categories mentioned in the verse: “Zakat expenditures are only for the poor and for the…
In Surat At-Tawbah, Allah states: وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُهَـٰجِرِینَ وَٱلۡأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِینَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحۡسَـٰنࣲ رَّضِیَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنۡهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتࣲ تَجۡرِی تَحۡتَهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِینَ فِیهَاۤ أَبَدࣰاۚ ذَ ٰلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِیمُ “And the pioneers—the first of the Muhājirīn and the Anṣār—and those who followed them with excellence: Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased…
Halal income Halal earning refers to how to earn your living in a way that pleases Allah. It also includes how to avoid falling into haram, doubtful matters, disliked things, or areas that are grey and uncertain. In the previous session, we mentioned the work of Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hasan, the student of Abu Hanifah….
Seeking halal income Earning a ḥalāl living, which is called al-kasb in Arabic, is a very important topic related to everyone’s business transactions, dealings, sales, and so on. It’s essential to understand what is permissible, what is not, the boundaries, the details, and so forth. As I mentioned last time, the first to write on…
Is my slate wiped clean when I go for Umrah or Hajj? It is a common perception that going for ʿUmrah or Ḥajj erases one’s sins, and this is indeed true to a great extent. Both acts are immense opportunities for purification and renewal, but there are important nuances to understand. Hajj as a purifier…
Chastity and honour is a huge and important topic. First, we will look at why we have prohibitions and boundaries in Islam. Why did Allah Almighty talk about chastity and honour in the Quran, and how did the Prophet (peace be upon him) apply these teachings? We will address the balance between desire and soul,…
Gift to the Bride The mahr is a mandatory gift from the groom to the bride, which can be in the form of money, property, or any other item agreed upon by both parties. It forms an essential element of the nikkah contract, along with the wali’s consent, the couple’s consent, and the witnesses. For…
Dealing with interest is haram Dealing with interest (riba) is haram. Some might not consider this haram, but it is completely prohibited, because Allah Almighty stated in the Quran, in Surat al Baqarah: Allah has made trading lawful and forbidden usury (2:275) The prohibition of taking interest is very clear not only from the Quran…
Both receiving and paying interest (riba) are a major sin, as riba is strictly prohibited in Islam and Allah has declared war against those who deal with riba. Ask your bank not to deposit interest in your account. However, if this is not possible, take out the interest and give it in charity to a…
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَدْعُو بِهَؤُلاَءِ الْكَلِمَاتِ “ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الْعَدُوِّ وَشَمَاتَةِ الأَعْدَاءِ ” . رواه النَّسائي. ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) used to say*:…
Debts – The Nitty Gritty How is it is relevant to us today? Why did Allah Almighty reveal the longest ayah of the Qur’an about debt? Simply, money concerns us all. All our dealings have financial repercussions. Ayat ul dain (2:282), the longest ayah of the longest surah of the Qur’an relates to debts and contracts. ‘Dain’…
At the time the ayahs about riba and debt were revealed, people did not trust each other. There was an atmosphere not just of mistrust, but also greed and exploitation. The rich controlled wealth and money was not in free circulation. Those who needed money couldn’t easily access it. Islam promotes the creation of a…