ummtaalib

Colored Contact Lenses By Mufti Muhammad Kadwa Q.) Please could you tell me what the ruling is about wearing coloured contact lenses? [Hassan Suriya] A.) It is not permissible. It involves deception and indicates ungratefulness for the natural colour Allah Ta'ala has granted one. http://www.albalagh.net/qa/0076.shtml

By Mufti Ibn Adam al-Kauthari Q.What is the Islamic verdict on contraception and birth control in general? Is it only permissible at times of need? A. First of all, it should be known that, one of the main aims of marriage in Islam is procreation. Islam encourages its followers to reproduce in large numbers in order to increase the size of the Ummah of our Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace). Allah Most High says in the Qur’an: “So now hold intercourse with your wives and seek (the children) what Allah has ordained for you.” ( Surah al-Baqarah, V: 187) In a Hadith recorded by Imam Abu Dawud, Imam an-Nasa'i and others, the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Marry women who are loving and reproduce in abundance, for I shall outnumber the other nations by you.” It is clear from the above, that Shariah encourages its followers to abstain from practicing birth control, especially, when it is given a formal, organized and general approach. Therefore, one should refrain from practicing contraception unless necessary. As far as the Shar’i ruling is concerned, there are two categories of birth control and the ruling of each is different as detailed below. 1) Permanent Irreversible Contraception This type of contraception is carried out when the couple decide never to have a baby. It is done with a sterilization operation carried out either on the man (vasectomy) or the woman (tubectomy) and renders the couple incapable of ever having children. The ruling with regards to this is that, it is unlawful (haram) to carry out such operations. There are many Narrations of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) and clear texts of the fuqaha (Jurists) which determine this. The Companion, Sayyidna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (Allah be pleased with him) said: “We use engage in Jihad in the company of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) and our wives did not accompany us. We said: O Prophet of Allah! Shall we not castrate ourselves? He forbade us from doing so.” (Sahih al-Bukhari) The great Hanafi Jurist, Allama Ibn Abidin (Allah have mercy on him) says: “Castration of humans is Haram.” (Radd al-Muhtar). Imam al-Ayni (Allah have mercy on him) says: “Castration (and sterilization) is prohibited with the consensus of all the scholars.” (Umdat al-Qari) However, in cases of extreme necessity, Irreversible contraception will become permissible. For example, a woman’s life is in danger or repeated pregnancies gravely damage her health, etc. This however, should be advised by a Muslim qualified doctor. 2) Temporary Reversible Contraception There are many methods by which reversible contraception can be performed. Coitus interruptus (Withdrawal method), the pill, using of the condom, i.u.d, spermicidal, just to mention a few. The ruling on reversible contraception is that, it is somewhat disliked (makruh tanzihan) if practiced without any reason. If there is a genuine reason, then it will be totally permissible with the permission of the wife. Some of the reasons (for the permissibility of reversible contraception), which the fuqaha mention, are: a) Physical state of the woman, b) Weakness and illness, c) The couple are on a distant journey, d) The couple’s relations are unstable and divorce is likely, e) Spacing out children in order to give them adequate care and attention, If contraception is practiced due to a reason contrary to the teachings of Shariah, then it will not be permissible. Some of these reasons are: a) Fear of poverty and not being able to provide, b) For the fashion of keeping small families and imitating the Kuffar, c) Being ashamed of having a girl, There are many narrations from the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) which signify the permissibility of reversible contraception, but at the same time indicate it to be undesirable. Sayyiduna Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) says: “We used to practice coitus interruptus (withdrawal method) while the Qur’an was being revealed. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) knew of this and did not prohibit us.” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim ) This has more or less been mentioned by the scholars in their books. (See Imam Nawawi in his commentary of Sahih Muslim, Mulla Ali al-Qari in al-Mirqat, Ibn Abidin in his Radd al-Muhtar and others. And Allah Knows Best

Q.Is it allowed to wear abayas with stones and embroidery fixed onto it? If it is allowed, up to what extent can it be adorned? A. Beauty is supposed to be displayed in the home in the presence of the husband, children, and mahram relatives. It is not meant to be displayed in public. The beauty of a woman is a private treasure and not a public property to be enjoyed by one and all. Thus, the purpose of the Abaya is to conceal the body and make one unattractive when emerging from the home. Needless to say, beautifying the abaya defeats the very purpose of the abaya. The Qur’an commands that women should not even stamp their feet in a way that part of her beauty may be revealed. How can then it permit them to publicly adorn themselves with outer garments that are attractive or revealing? A hadith actually curses the woman who uses any type of perfume at a place where its fragrance would reach non-mahram men. Further, it categorically states that women should stay out of public view. When she leaves her home the shaitan looks for ways to tempt people through her. Hence, abayas that have revealing features or any type of attraction are not only impermissible but they are shameful and a cause of fitnah and evil. May Allah protect us all. However, if the Abaya is worn at home and only in the presence of other females or one's husband, then it could be beautified. And Allah Knows Best http://www.albalagh.net/qa/0161.shtml

Q.) I am a driving instructor in the UK. Does Islam permit me to give lessons to women? A.) It is haram for a male to give driving lessons to a Ghayr Mahram (not prohibited in marriage) female. Rasulullah said, 'No (Ghayr Mahram) man should be alone with a woman.' And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best By Mufti Ebrahim Desai Posted: 27 Safar 1424, 17 April 2004

Question Why is impermissable for a women to wear perfume in front of ghair mehrams but not for men? Answer In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. Allah in His Infinite Wisdom has made different things impermissible for men and women keeping in view the biological differences between the two genders. For example, men are forbidden from wearing gold and silk, while both of these are permissible for women. Likewise, he (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) has stated that women should not wear perfume when they go outside while this injunction is not given to men. The wisdom and practicality of this command becomes clear when we understand that Allah has defined different roles for men and women. Women have been created alluring and attractive by nature. However, this does not mean that they can be treated as objects and compared to other women on the street. Therefore, to conceal their beauty, women are required to observe the hijab when leaving their homes. Perfume or scent is also a part of beautification but it cannot be hidden like other articles of beauty can. It spreads and attracts attention towards the person wearing it. A believing woman then would be negating her hijab by wearing perfume. Men, on the other hand, do not wear hijab and neither is beauty associated with them the way it is with women. As a result, this injunction does not apply to them. And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Sohail ibn Arif, Student Darul Iftaa Chicago, USA Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has stated, Beware of seven sins which utterly destroy a person: To commit Shirk (ascribe partners or equate anything to Allah) To practice Sihr (jadoo/black magic) To commit murder To consume interest To usurp the property of orphans To flee from the battlefield To falsely accuse an innocent and chaste woman of fornication. Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians 223 Alpine Road, Overport, Durban Tel : +27 (0) 31 2077099 Fax : +27(0) 31 2074163 Website : www.jamiat.org.za

The Greatest Gift - The Human Body Diet plays a very important role in the daily life of a believer. There are many verses in the Noble Qur’ân which draw man's attention towards his self and which invite him to carefully study his body and soul and the nature of their mutual relationship. By doing so, one will firstly find in it strong evidence of the existence of Allah and that Allah has not created mankind and all other beings of this world without any purpose as mentioned in the Noble Qur’ân: “Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose.” (3:191) T he Importance of Healthiness It is therefore necessary to ensure that the physical body is kept healthy so that the soul and spirit may also remain healthy thus in turn aiding the believer in the service of both his spiritual and material attainment. Diet therefore, plays an important role for this purpose. For this reason Islam has prohibited certain foods due to their ill effects and permitted all other pure, good and clean food products. Allah Ta’ala says in the Noble Qur’ân: “O’ Believers! Eat of the good and pure (lawful) that We have provided you with and be grateful to Allah, if you truly worship Him.” (2:172) Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: “Halal is clear and the Haram (unlawful) is clear. Between the two there are doubtful matters concerning which people do not know. One who avoids them in order to safeguard his deen(religion) and his honour are safe, while if some one indulges in it, he may be indulging in the unlawful…"(Bukhari) General Qur’anic guidance dictates that all foods are Halal except those that are specifically mentioned as Haram (unlawful or prohibited). Muslims in general are advised to eat good and pure things and not to indulge in impure, bad and harmful things thus following their open enemy Shaitaan: “O People! Eat of what is lawful and good on the Earth and do not follow the footsteps of Shaitaan, for he is your open enemy.” (2:168) Muslims permit all foods, pure and clean for consumption. Islamic Jurisprudence has derived certain principles from the Ahadeeth to determine whether a particular animal or bird is lawful or unlawful. HALAL: This is an Arabic term which means permissible or lawful in Islam. In reference to food, it is the Islamic dietary standard, as prescribed*in the Shari’ah (Islamic Law). Halal Animals The following animals are fit for Muslim consumption: All cattle, Sheep, Goats, Camels, All types of buck, Rabbits, Fish , Locusts.* The aforementioned animals excluding fish and locusts will only be considered Halal when they*are slaughtered according to the Islamic guidelines as formulated by Jurist. Please refer to Halal Monitoring Committee (www.halalmc.org) website for the guidelines. It is also required that the Halal animals be slaughtered while pronouncing the name of Allah at the time of slaughter. “Eat of that over which the name of Allah hath been mentioned, if ye are believers in his revelations” (6:118) “And eat not of that whereon Allah’s name hath not been mentioned, for lo! It is abomination. Lo! The devils do inspire their friends to contend with you. But if ye obey them, ye will be in truth idolaters”. (6:121) Unlawful Organs of Animals Slaughtered as Halal · Flowing Blood · Male reproductory organ · Testicles · Female reproductory organ · Pancreas · Gall bladder · Bladder · Spinal cord HARAM: This is another Arabic term which means impermissible or unlawful in Islam. Meat is the most strictly regulated of the food groups. Blood, pork, and the meat of dead animals or those immolated to other than Allah strongly prohibited. The unlawful foods are specifically mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an, in the following verses: “He hath forbidden you only carrion, and blood, and swine flesh, and that on which hath been invoked any other name besides Allah’s……..” (2:173) “Forbidden unto you (for food) are: carrion and blood and swine flesh, and that on which hath been invoked the name other than Allah, and the strangled, and the dead through beating, and the dead through falling from a height, and that which hath been gored to death, and the devoured of wild beasts, saving that which ye make lawful (by slaughter) and that which hath been immolated to idols and that ye swear by the divining arrows. This is an abomination….” (5:3) Haram Animals: The consumption of the following animals is against the dietary laws of Islam. Likewise any ingredient or product derived from them or contaminated with them is also prohibited for a Muslim to consume: · Meat of swine (pig) including all it’s by products · Meat of an animal that was not blessed with the name of Allah at the time of slaughter · Meat of dead animals (carrion)* · Meat of animals that were strangled to death · Meat of animals that were beaten to death · Meat of animals that died due to falling from a height · Meat of animals that were gored to death by a horn · Meat of animals that were devoured by wild beasts · Animals killed in a manner which prevents their blood from being fully drained from their bodies; · Carnivorous animals with fangs, e.g. lions, dogs, wolves, tigers, etc… · Birds of prey e.g. falcons, eagles, owls, vultures, etc · Reptiles, snakes, crocodiles · Mules and Asses · Pests’ e.g. rats and scorpions · Insects excluding locusts Haram Fluids · All types of alcohol · Blood · Intoxicating of all types, including alcohol and drugs Alcohol is also prohibited, as its harms have been proven greater than its benefit. This has also been stated by Allah in the Noble Qur’ân in Surah al-Baqarah. Other physical, moral, social and spiritual evils of intoxicants have been mentioned in many verses of the Holy Qur’ân and blessed traditions of the Holy Prophet*(PUBH). Many of these ill effects can also be easily noticed in our societies. This prohibition of alcohol and other intoxicants is evident according to the following guidance: “O ye who believe! Intoxicants and games of chance, and idols and divining arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. Leave it aside in order that ye may succeed.” (5:9) A Balanced Diet - Prescribed in the Qur’ân The Qur’ân has not restricted itself in merely mentioning the permissible and impermissible foods but goes to the extent of giving useful tips regarding a balanced diet, a diet which contains most if not all the useful ingredients required for the growth, strengthening and repairing of the human body. These ingredients include animal protein, fat, calcium, iron, salts, etc. The most balanced diets consist of meat, fish, fresh milk, cheese and fruit. Both direct and indirect references have been made regarding the afore mentioned. The reference regarding the importance of meat protein in the human diet is given in the following verse: “And the cattle, He has created them for you, in them there is warmth (clothing) and numerous benefits, and of them you eat.” (16:5) In this verse special reference has been given to the importance of eating despite having said, “…numerous benefits…”. Reference regarding other types of meat has also been given such as the meat of fowls in the following verse: “And the flesh of fowls that they desire.” (56:21) Fish has always been considered as a food of very high protein and is very important for human consumption. Allah says: “And from them both (fresh and salt water) you eat fresh tender meat (fish).” (35:12) The usefulness of fresh milk is stressed in these words: “And verily in the cattle there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, from between excretion and blood, pure milk, palatable to the drinkers.” (16:66) The benefits of fruits as good nourishment can be understood from this verse: “And from the fruits of date palms and grapes, you desire strong drink and a goodly provision.” (16:67) Similarly there are verses which cover the whole range of fruits, salads, and vegetables which also play an important role in a nutritious, balanced diet: “It is He who sends down rain from the sky, and with it We bring forth vegetation of all kinds, and out of it We bring forth thick clustered grain. And out of the date palm and its spate come clusters of dates hanging low and near, and gardens of grapes, olives and pomegranates each similar (in kind) yet different (in variety and taste). Look at their fruits when then begin to bear, and the ripeness thereof.” (6:99) Islam, being a complete religion, also teaches and advises the believer as to what the best method of eating is. The believers are advised to be moderate in every aspect of life. Direct reference has been made in the Noble Qur’ân regarding moderation in eating and drinking. “And eat and drink, but waste not in extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not those who waste in extravagance.” (7:31) Abstain from meat To abstain from meat in Islam is permisable as long as one does not consider the consumption of meat to be haraam (impermissable) - During the time of Rasoolullah the Muslims were basicly semi-vegetarian - (occasional consumption of meat). Meat was considered an expensive luxory. After the conquest of more fertile lands like Syria and Iraq, the subsequent wealth increase of Muslim, meat became easier to afford. Sayyidina Umar(Ra) says, 'Beware of meat, because it has an addiction like the addiction of wine.' And the other hadith in the Muwatta—there is a chapter called 'Bab al-Laham (the chapter of meat). Both are from Sayyidina Umar. During his khilafa, he prohibited people from eating meat two days in a row, only allowing meat consumption every other day. In one incident He saw one man eating meat every day, and he said to him, 'Every time you get hungry you go out and buy meat? Right? In other words, every time your nafs wants meat, you go out and buy it?' He said, 'Yes, Amir al-Mumineen, ana qaram (I love meat),'. And Sayyidina Umar said, 'It would be better for you to roll up your tummy a little bit so that other people can eat.' The well to do muslim (middle class) of the time used to consume meat once in every two weeks. So even if one is averse to eating meat, it is however possible to consume meat occasionally. Moderation- The Teachings of the Prophet (PUBH) The Best of Teachers and the Mercy of the Worlds*(PUBH) is reported to have clarified the meaning and limit of moderation in a tradition in which he is reported to have said that one’s worst weakness is one’s belly. If you must eat make sure you fill one third of your stomach with food, one third with water and leave one third for air i.e. leave it empty. The Messenger of Allah SWT said: "No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for any son of Adam are some morsels to keep his back straight. But if it must be, then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for breathing ." [Ahmad, At-Tirmidhee, An-Nasaa'ee, Ibn Maajah - hadeeth saheeh.] In another narration, the reason for moderation has been clearly stated. The Prophet*(PUBH) is reported to have said: “The stomach is the tank of the body and the veins go down to it. When the stomach is healthy the veins come back in a healthy condition, but when it is in a bad condition, they return diseased.” In short, believers are advised to always take care of their stomachs and refrain from foods and practices that might pollute the stomach with various diseases. In order to do so the Prophet*(PUBH) is reported to have advised believers to always stop eating before their stomachs are completely full i.e. stop eating when the urge to eat more is still present. Conclusion - The Etiquette's of Eating and Drinking Islam teaches us many other etiquette's of eating and drinking. The Prophet*(PUBH) made a point of developing remarkably clean and healthy eating habits among his followers. He asked the companions to wash their hands before and after, to start eating with the praise of Allah, to eat using the right hand, not to eat until they really felt hungry, not to eat and drink excessively. Finally, by praising and thanking Allah for the food and drink, for our consumption. From all that has been mentioned, the importance of healthy eating, a balanced diet and hygiene can be understood in the light of the Qur’ân and Sunnah. Islam has stressed on the importance of these things right from the start unlike health authorities etc., which have just recently begun to stress its importance. This could be counted as just another gem that manifests the perfection of Islam. References: www.halalmc.co.uk/resources/what_is_halal.html#1 www.inter-islam.org/Lifestyle/lifestyledex.htm Eating with non muslim For most new muslim the common concern is eating with non-Muslims without one having to eat and indulge into unlawful practices, but at the same time, they are drinking wine and eating unlawful (haram) meat, etc. The ruling with regards to such situations is that, to make a habit of this would be impermissible. However, if there is a genuine need (such as work get-togethers) and it is done infrequently, then it would be permissible, provided one does not be affected by the ways and practices of the Kuffar (contrary to Islam) In conclusion, it will be impermissible to eat with non-Muslims (or even Muslims) if it entails one participating in unlawful things, or if the food party is connected to a religious event of the non-Muslims. Besides that, if one eats with them now and then without forming a habit, and limits it to the genuine need, then there is nothing wrong with that. And Allah knows best Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari (Darul Iftaa) For detailed answer please refer to Q&A portal -Sunnipath & Daruliftaa. http://www.daruliftaa.com/question.a...nID=q-14494066 qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=2752&CATE=107

1. The name must be meaningful 2.On the day of judgment a person will be called by his or his parents name 3. Allah, the Exalted likes best the name Abdullah and Abdurahman 4. Prophet (SAW) always changed names (to good meaning ones) that are found to be derogatory 5. Select name that signify servitude to Allah alone and no one else 6. Better to keep a name of Prophet (primarily) or of some pious individual Keeping all this in mind one can retain their entire names prior to conversion if there is no negative conotation associated with the names. However often some finds adopting or arabising the first name helps personally as well as socially. It is important that you are known to be muslim by the community you live in as well as by your relative who you feel to be at ease with. Usage of the term 'Bint / Ibn / Abu/ Umm' is Arabic custom, generally not employed by non Arabic Muslims as the emphasis is on the self rather than family members. Some examples of Muslim names of converts with last/family name retained David Burns to Dawud Burns, Yassin Dutton Ayisha Beweley Sarah Joseph Abdasamad Clark Abdur Rahim Green Yusuf Chamber

Answer by Mufti Abdur Rahman Ibn Yusuf and Shaykh Faraz Rabbani Any of the four Sunni schools of law are valid to follow, and which one chooses to follow is a matter of personal preference and circumstances. One should consider: (1) Which madhhab you can learn properly, given your life circumstances (2) Which mahhab you can get your questions answered for (3) Your personal inclination, and general life considerations (such as family background, community, and so on). Choosing a school to study and follow is a decision which should be based on accessibility of material and scholars of that school, rather than anything else. It is difficult to say which the easiest school to follow is. Each school has certain issues which would be considered more difficult than what is fond in another school and some issues which would be considered easier.Hence, inquire around your area to see what is the madhhab that most people follow and have access to. If there are proficient scholars of the Hanafi school found in your area, then take up that school by learning the basics rules of everyday worship from them or by reading a text under their guidance then consult them on any deeper issues that arise. Likewise, if you find scholars from the Shafi'i or Maliki school, and have access to them or the relevant materials then adopt that school. My Comment: One fiqh: The response was formulated to give a general guidance for average muslim and is by the highly respected scholar with speacility in Islamic scinence, one being a faqih expert in IFTA, one of the toughest sciences to master. As a layperson with limited knowldge other then being able to understand some basic text, I lack the ability or the capacity to decifer inorder to obtain ruling of Shariah. The shariah was understood and applied by the notable sahabas (RAD) differently and as such my humble and limited knowldge prevents me from making such a bold claim that there was always one fiqh. Anyway, the lecture titled 'Juristic Differences' by Shaikh Abu Yusuf Ryadul Haq inshallah will give you some appreciation into this vast and complex islamic sciences Authentic Fiqh: There are two types of law, absolute and speculative. The absolute law has no room for difference of opinions in them. The speculative laws have more than one possible meaning. There were many schools of thought/ Jurisprudance [pl. Madhhaahib. singular = Madhhab] before but many died out. Due to this, only 4 extensively stood the test of time. All are correct since they differ in terms of interpreting the speculative laws. In my limited knowldge, I can't say which jurisprudance is more authentic. It is like comparing apple with pear. There are various Hanafi scholars for instance who wrote extensively in Malaki Fiqh. Malaki Fiqh uses tradition practiced by people of madina where sahaba lived, similarly hanafi fiqh is developed in Iraq where notable Sahaba such as Ibn Masud (RAD) and many other notable sahaba taught. Imam At Tahawiya (acce[ted view of Muslim Creed] for instance followed Hanafi Fiqh, Ibn Rajab & Ibn Taymiah followed Hambaly fiqh, Imam Bukhari studied Shafi fiqh as well with Imam Ghazali. Many of times, people with limited knowldge try to weigh one against one another, forgetting Imam Matrudi and Imam ashari are two side of the same coin, similar is the case for accepted view of scholars. Most scholarly reverts like Imam Abdusamad Clark, learnt the malaki fiqh with whom I liase regularly works closely with Hanafi scholars in translating classical books. Just for information I follow Hanafi Fiqh/ jurisprudance and I remember Imam Abdusamad Clark stating that Islamic view point is not driven by personality'. Ustad Abdul Hakim Murad (shafi)adds it is about following due process/usul, and Shaikh Ryadul Haq (Hanafi) states knolwdge is not knowledge if not accompanied with humility and realisation. One only realises it after apprciation and following due process in seeking knowldge. Hence process is more important then which fiqh you study. The 3 pointer are simple keys to start the process of seeking knowldge of shariah. In todays age, it is rare for anyone to master more then one fiqh. If one is able to do so, good on him. Life experience is about priorotising so that our small and humble effort is accepted by the Most sublime, the Most Merciful in this life and in the hereafter. For most of us, in addition to learning one fiqh, there are ibadah we can engage in for gaining nearness of Allah by performing Sunnah and Nawafil act i.e Adkar, reciting Quran and pondering over it, charity work, helping the needy and aged, dawah and being with those who are forgotten by most of us and to summerise be a good human so that Allah, the most Sublime makes us of his favoured servent.

Qur'an and Sunnah have provided ample guidance on the subject which can be summarized in four essential principles. There is no prescribed particular dress style. However, these principles can be used to accommodate our needs, circumstances and tastes. 1. Our dress must cover our body adequately. Men - it is the middle part of the body from navel to knee. Women - It is the entire body except hands and face. These parts must never be exposed to any other person (except in case of genuine need e.g. medical treatment). In addition, the cloth must be neither see-through nor tight fitting. 2. Dress should provide adornment. It should provide for decent appearance. Our appearance should not be an eyesore for decent human beings. Men - This extends the coverage requirements to include most of the body. Women - The essential requirement is that their dress should identify them as respectable ladies who would be honoured not harassed. Additionally, hijab rules aim at protecting them from the gaze of other men. She should also try not to wear clothing that attracts attention according to the culture of the area where she lives. For example, bright colours are perfectly normal in some parts of Africa, whereas they would turn heads in some parts of Canada. 3. Dress ought to establish some sort of Islamic identity. At the least it should not identify us as followers of another religion. It can be stated that “Prohibition of Imitation” of the non-Muslims comes into effect in one of two ways: · Either through one’s directing oneself in imitating them, of his own accord, with the intention of being like them, or · Through imitation of something religiously or otherwise unique to them, in a way that would allow an onlooker to consider one as “one of them”. 4. The design of the dress must avoid three deadly sins: show off, arrogance, and self indulgence. Our garments provide an easy opportunity to nurture them. Hence the need to be extra cautious. One Hadith states "Eat what you feel like and wear what you feel like. But avoid two things: extravagance and arrogance." [bukhari]. At the risk of stating the obvious one should be reminded that this Hadith establishes an overriding concern that limits our choices within the realm of what is considered halal. It does not do away with the distinction between halal and haram. Simply, wearing the everyday clothes most of us wear is perfectly fine. One should, though, try to avoid modern day fashion brands that are signs of the corrupt - as wearing such clothes does have spiritually negative effects regardless of whether we “feel” it or not. However, one should equally strive to emulate the prophetic sunna . It is highly recommended to follow the sunnas of dress, which are general principles one should follow not limited to any specific type of clothing. The prophetic message was for all mankind and not merely a specific group. Thus, we see in the sunna these general principles that are applicable everywhere. In addition to the above, the following sunna actions of dress are: For men wearing white (sign of purity) and black (sign of majesty), keeping the trouser above the ankles folded neately, to cover the head (scalpcap, turban, e.t.c). One should be mindful of all sunna especially when one is at the mosque and at the time of worships. Disliked and Prohibition The Prophet (PUBH) prohibited men from the wearing of red coloured cloth. It is reported in the hadith collection of Imam Muslim that that Propphet (PUBH) disliked yellow as it is associated with women. Conclusion* Clothes should be considered a great bounty of Allah Taa'la and one should wear them and express thanks. Undoubtedly if all clothes are worn whilst taking heed of the divine laws of Allah, it will assume a degree if Ibadah and lean to the nearness of Allah Taa'la. The Prophet (PUBH) said: “Whomsoever utters the following supplication after wearing clothes, all his past sins will be forgiven- All praises are due to Allah who clothed me with this and which He bestowed upon me without any toil and effort on my part.” Jewellery Men - It is impermissible for a man to wear a necklace, pendant or any other type of jewellery except for a silver ring. A man may wear his ring on either his right or left hand, since some scholars preferred the former whist others the latter. However, it is Sunna and preferable for men to wear their silver rings on the little finger of either their right or left hands. To wear it on the middle and index fingers is somewhat disliked, but not forbidden. Women - Women are without doubt allowed to wear rings made from gold and silver. However, to wear rings made from other substances such as metal, wood, etc is impermissible. If the rings are plated with gold or silver, then there is nothing wrong in women wearing them. They may wear their rings on any finger of their right or left hands. It would be permitted for her to wear a pendant with a Qur’anic verse or Allah’s name inscribed on it. However, two points must be taken into consideration: · If the pendant has a Qur’anic verse inscribed on it, then she should not wear it during her menstruation, for wearing a pendant entails direct contact with a verse of the Qur’an. · It must be removed before entering into the toilet/bathroom. Perfume Men – It is permissible for men to wear scented perfume The alcohol used in perfumes or deodorants is normally a synthetic alcohol, which is not impure (Najis) according to the prevailing view of Imam Abu Hanifa and his followers. Therefore, the external use of this type of alcohol is not Haram. However, its oral intake is still impermissible except in the cases of necessary medication. Women- It is impermissible for women to wear scented perfume except for beautification for their husband. Article extracted from Albalagh, Sunnipath & Darul Iftaa weblink

1. Practice Islam as much as you can "He who loves my Sunnah has loved me, and he who loves me will be with me in Paradise." -The Prophet Muhammad (Tirmidhi) As a new Muslim, you will have trouble keeping up with prayers every day, fasting during Ramadan, and the many other practices in this religion. The struggle that we face, with such a radical change in lifestyle, is difficult and will take some time. Awkward moments are bound to happen, don't fret. You are not expected to wake up at 4am every morning to pray tahajjud (extra night prayers). If you have problems with certain practices, then gradually work yourself into the mindset of worship. A counselor once told me when I was young, "How do you eat an elephant? Just One bite at a time." Think of it as one step at a time. Pray to Allah and ask for Him to make it easy for you and the rest will come naturally. Keeping up with your devotional practices is something that will strengthen your faith immensely. Read the Qur'an whenever possible. Find a collection of hadith, such as Riyadh us-Saliheen, and read it often. You will start to feel a connection to Allah and you will become used to Islam as a religion and way of life. 2. Respect your parents "Heaven lies under the feet of your mother." -The Prophet Muhammad (Ahmad, Nasa'i) Keeping up a good relationship with your family is essential. Try to avoid bringing up or taking part in controversial subjects regarding religion. This is almost unavoidable, but your parents will eventually accept that Islam is not going to turn you into a terrorist if you stay calm during these tense moments. Gradually, your parents will gain some respect and understanding of Islam and may start to become genuinely interested. This is a great sign and insha'Allah, God will make a way for them to accept Islam. What you do not want to do is act like you know everything, attempt to debate everything, or overly defend yourself in a way that might make you angry or upset. This will just cause heartache and uneasiness. Your priority now should be to work on yourself. 3. Find a teacher "For him who follows a path for seeking knowledge, Allah will ease for him the path to Paradise." -The Prophet Muhammad (Muslim) Finding a teacher to bounce ideas off of is a great way to learn your deen (religion). I found it is good to find someone with as much knowledge as possible who also has an understanding of the English language and American culture. It is difficult to listen to someone with a thick accent or someone with a back-home mentality. When I first accepted Islam, I would drive every day to visit my teacher and I would ask him what seemed like an endless stream of questions. Sometimes he seemed overwhelmed! This is a great way to clarify things you hear on Sheikh Youtube or Google or any part of the Qur'an you are reading at the time. This will also help you have a real grounding in the Islamic tradition. You will eventually have spent more time learning Islam than most people from Muslim families. Maintain a sense of humility if you do gain a lot of knowledge, as there will always be someone who will be more knowledgeable than you. Learn everything you can in small chunks, no one is asking you to be a scholar! 4. Keep away from debates and arguments "Verily anger spoils faith as aloe spoils honey." -The Prophet Muhammad (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi) Trying to constantly defend your religion is something that will cause you a lot of stress. I remember when I first accepted Islam, it seemed like the whole world was after me. This may happen to different people at different levels, but it was a very overwhelming experience for me. The best thing to do is avoid these arguments at all costs. If you are mature about your religion and display a desire to explain yourself without refuting others, then many doors will open for you. You are bound to give someone a refreshing view of Islam, which is what so many people are hungry for after seeing Islam in such a negative light in the media. Staying away from these discussions will put you at peace and give you breathing room. A lot of converts are not really comfortable with bringing up their religion because of the backlash they receive. Personally, I recognized that if I just mention it when necessary, I get a more positive reaction. You'll be surprised to hear "Oh that's cool dude, what made you pick that religion?" This is always an opportunity for da'wah (inviting to Islam). 5. Gain a connection to the Arabic language "Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand." Qur'an, 12:2 This is one of my favorite parts of becoming a Muslim. To be honest, I'm a language-lover and I realize everyone is not the same in this regard. Just because you failed high school Spanish though doesn't mean you will have trouble with Arabic. There are many tricks to learning the language that I won't go into here, but there are ways to make this easier on yourself. These methods can be found online or in books; with a little research you can pave your way to gaining an understanding of Arabic. Start by learning the alphabet and connecting letters together. You can learn this in an afternoon if you know someone that is a native Arabic speaker (but go at your own pace). Sit on that for a while and eventually you will be able to follow along in the Qur'an if you listen to a recitation on your computer or MP3 player. You will start to recognize words, after which you can get into simple grammar rules. I recommend learning common nouns and prepositions first (words like "in", "on", "for" and "with"). Arabic can be really enjoyable, and you are bound to gain an Islamic vocabulary after listening to talks or lectures. Eventually you will know meanings of words like "furqaan" and "sajdah" and you'll be able to use them in conversations with Muslims. Sabr (patience) is essential! 6. Understand Islam's organic nature "Those who make things hard for themselves will be destroyed. (He said it three times.)" -The Prophet Muhammad (Muslim) Coming to Islam will sometimes put you in a situation where you are overwhelmed with opinions that are hard to follow. If one looks, there is always a workable solution. In such situation, opt for the majority held view of the scholar but do not assum others opting for a different view is wrong. Scholars says we follow with sincerty and in the hope of being correct with a possibility of being incorrect. All this all be made easy as one learns the multilayerd/multicoloured understanding of Islam within the boundary set by the Sciences/USUL of the relegion. 7. Maintain your Identity "O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted." Qur'an, 49:13 Being a Muslim is a huge part of your identity now. That doesn't mean you can't barbeque with your friends or watch football on Sundays. If there are things in your culture that do not directly contradict with basic Islamic creed, then you are welcome to keep those things in your life. You do not need to start wearing Arab or Indian clothing. As long as your clothes cover what they are supposed to cover, you are in the clear. Many converts are also exposed to really weird food that is overly spicy or funny tasting. This might lead us to think that eating curry is sunnah or something righteous. We can still have our own culture and tastes in food: pot roast and beans are still halal! There are many other examples of things that you will be exposed to that are from foreign cultures and do not necessarily have anything to do with Islam. Our goal as new Muslims is to worship Allah , not to add a Pakistani or Arab identity to our persona. It is good to have a teacher who understands the subtleties of different opinion in fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and can inform you of differences among the scholars on issues that are of concern. Most people in masajid will have a very limited view of the juristic possibilities inside the Islamic tradition. Islam is a vast tradition and we should not make it small. These diverse opinions are there to help us, not cause strain on ourselves. 8. Force yourself to go to the masjid "The person who receives the greatest reward for the Salah is one who lives the farthest and has the farthest to walk." -The Prophet Muhammad (Bukhari, Muslim) Going on Fridays is a given, but I would also recommend trying to fit a few prayers (at least) per week in the masjid. This will open many doors for you and will insha'Allah grant many good deeds to your account. You will meet people who are connected to Islam; networking opportunities are more readily available; and you are bound to make long-lasting friends. This is one of the things that I really love about Islam, that you can almost always find people in the masjid. Although this may be hard initially, try and go to the masjid. The payoff will be huge, even if you just pray and leave right after. You will eventually warm up to the community and you can feel more comfortable going to the masjid whenever you like. 9. Find Muslim friends and avoid severing ties "On the Day of Resurrection Allah Almighty will proclaim: "Where are those who have mutual love for My Glory's sake? Today I shall shelter them in My shade where there is no shade but Mine." -The Prophet Muhammad (Muslim) Saying "As-salamu 'Alaykum" ( "Peace be upon you") to people you see on campus or at the grocery store is a real blessing in Islam. It immediately lets people know you are Muslim and they usually will be happy to return the greeting and hopefully share a few words with you. Doors of friendship will be opened and you will meet lots of people. Try and spend some time with Muslims when you can. It is beneficial to remind yourself that you are not the only Muslim on the planet and you share your religion with almost 2 billion people around the globe. Also, don't sever your friendships with your non-Muslim friends unless they are constantly partying or using the list of major sins as their weekend to-do list. You can be a light to your Christian, Agnostic, Jewish, or Atheist friends. You never know who Allah will guide, and showing that you are living an ethical life can encourage these people to learn a little about Islam or change their mind to having a positive view of the religion. 10. Avoid Loneliness "Islam began as something strange and will revert to being strange as it began, so give glad tidings to the strangers." -The Prophet Muhammad (Muslim) This is a major problem in the convert community. We are lonely. The best thing we can do to fight the feeling of loneliness is to spend as much time as possible with good company. Having dinners with people a few nights a week is a sure way to maintain a good attitude. The practice of becoming a nun or a monk is alien to Islam; we are social creatures and Islam recognizes this. Try not to lock yourself away in your apartment to avoid the world. This will just cause a vicious cycle that will cause deep depression and can lead to searching for solace in haram (unlawful). Make it an obligation on yourself to remain a sociable human being. It takes a lot of work but the result is happiness and contentment in life. 11. Stay away from extremism "And thus we have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people." Qur'an, 2:143 Most converts do not enter Islam looking for an extremist point of view. Unfortunately, we have seen some converts do end up overseas working for terrorist organizations. This is something that can happen from a person feeling victimized or ostracized by their own culture and being overcome with anger. I personally have not had a problem with anyone trying to "radicalize" me. It does happen enough though that it should be a concern. It will be best for you to keep your head on your shoulders and not get caught up with extreme points of view. Know that all of the scholars overseas and in America have absolutely refuted terrorism in their fatawa (legal rulings). Extremism is on the very edges of the Islamic thought. Do your best to stay on a middle way. 12. Do not despair "So know that victory is with patience, and relief is with distress and that with hardship comes ease." -The Prophet Muhammad Being a convert to Islam, you will face a lot of tribulations. There is not anything that you cannot overcome though, and never despair in Allah . Allah guided to you to Islam, you searched for the answer and you found it. Be happy and constantly remind yourself of the blessings in your life. There are a lot of good things that will happen to you and you are on the straight road to Jannah (paradise). Rejoice in being Muslim. Remember the Sahabah (companions) were all converts to Islam and they were human beings that came from Adam and Eve just like you! Be strong and find comfort in your prayers and worship to Allah . The first six months were the hardest for me, and insha'Allah we will all continue to grow as a convert community in America. Source: SuhaibWebb - By Brother Alex (Dallas, TX)

Aameen...dont worry sis...i was like that in the beginning. : ) You'll pick up speed as you keep trying

I think its been fixed. Please try again

Reminder (for myself first) of something I have heard from various Mashaikh: our beginning was a drop of dirty liquid our end is a lifeless foul-smelling body and in between we are carriers of filth

In The Story of Civilization, it says: In England, Saint Valentine’s Day was to come at the end of winter. When that day came, according to them, the birds mated enthusiastically in the forests, and the young men would put flowers on the windowsills of the homes of the girls whom they loved. (The Story of Civilization by Will Durant, 15/23) Among the most important symbols of this day: 1 – Expressing joy and happiness on this occasion, as on other major festivals. 2 – Exchanging red roses, which are an expression of love, the "spiritual love" of the pagans or the "love". Hence it is known to them as the Feast of Lovers. 3 – The sending of greetings cards. On some of these cards are pictures of "Cupid", who appears as a child with two wings, carrying a bow and arrows. This was the god of love of the pagan Romans – exalted be Allah far above their fabrications and their association of others with Him. 4 – Exchange of words of love and desire in the greetings cards which is sent to one another, in verse, prose and short phrases. Some of the cards contain comical pictures and funny words, and they often contain the phrase "be my Valentine". This represents the concept of this festival after it was taken from the pagan concept. 5 – In many western countries, parties are held during the day and in the evening, where there is mixing of men and women, and dancing. Many of them send gifts such as roses and boxes of chocolates to their wives, friends and those whom they love. Anyone who looks at what is said about the myths surrounding this pagan festival will clearly understand the following: Firstly: That its origins lie in the pagan beliefs of the Romans, where it was an expression of the spiritual love of the idols which they used to worship instead of Allah. Whoever celebrates it is celebrating an occasion of Shirk (Polytheism) on which the idols are venerated. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): "Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zãlimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are no helpers" [al-Mã’idah 5:72] Secondly: That the development of this festival among the Romans was connected to myths and legends which no sound mind can accept, let alone the mind of the Muslim who believes in Allah and His Messengers (peace be upon them). Can anyone of sound mind believe that a she-wolf suckled the founder of the city of Rome and gave him strength and wisdom? Moreover, these myths go against the belief (‘Aqeedah) of the Muslim because the One Who bestows strength and wisdom is the Creator, may He be glorified and exalted, not the milk of a she-wolf! The same applies to the myth that their idols could protect them from evil or keep wolves away from their flocks. Thirdly: Among the ugly rituals of the Romans on this day was the sacrifice of a dog and a goat, the daubing of their blood onto two youths then washing the blood off with milk, etc… This is something that would cause revulsion in anyone of a sound nature, and it is unacceptable to the sound mind. Fourthly: The connection between Saint Valentine and this festival has been questioned by many sources, and it considered being far from definite. So how about us Muslims, who are commanded to be different from the pagans before them? Fifthly: This festival was denounced by the Christian clergy in Italy, the bastion of Catholicism, because it was spreading bad attitudes and having an adverse effect on the minds of young men and women. So it is better for the Muslims to reject it, warn others against it and to fulfil their duty towards it of enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil. From At-Tarbiyah Islamic Taribiyah Academy

http://www.islamicteachings.org/forum/category/207-arabic-language/ in the different languages section there is a subforum for Arabic

Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam is a perfect example for mankind in every aspect of life. As a teacher, a leader, a friend, a husband and a father, in every role he was the perfect example. Even in humour he left behind a perfect example. Our beloved Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam enjoyed humour. On some occasions he himself would make humorous remarks however, even in humour, he always spoke the truth. It is reported that the Prophet was asked by his companions: "You are joking with us." He said, "But I never say anything but the truth." [sahih Bukhari] He smiled often but it was not his habit to laugh out loud. His Companions followed his example and refrained from bursting into laughter in an amusing situation. His remarks cheered the audience but never made the meeting a place of fun and frolic. His assembly always remained a place of learning, understanding and spiritual fulfilment. As long as the correct Islamic code of behaviour is maintained where no harm is caused to another person through humiliation and insensitivity, there is no lewdness and only truth is spoken, jokes and a good sense of humour will be permitted. There are many delightful reports about the jokes exchanged between the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam and the Sahabah radhiyallaahu ‘anhum. A wonderful example is the amusing episode of Zaahir, a bedoin tribesman. He was a close companion of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. Once, while he was selling his wares in the market of Madinah, Rasulullaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam passed by. He saw Zaahir so absorbed in his work that he was unaware of his surroundings. Rasulullaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam sneaked up from behind and hoisted him aloft. “Who is it?” cried Zaahir, twisting and turning in the strong grasp, in vain to see who it was that held him. Then he heard Rasulullaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam shout, “Here is a young boy for sale! A young boy for sale! Who wants him?” At this, Zaahir laughed and replied, “O Rasulullaah, whoever buys a slave like me will end up a loser!” Another example is that of the Prophet’s sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam joke with the small child of one of the Sahabah Radhiyallaahu ‘anhu, a boy called Abu 'Umayr, who had a small bird he used to play with. One day he saw the child looking sad, so he said, "Why do I see Abu 'Umayr looking sad?" The Sahabah told him, "The nughar [a small bird, like a sparrow] which he used to play with has died, O Messenger of Allah." The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) began to gently joke with the child, saying, "O Abu Umayr, what happened to the nughayr?" [Nughayr: diminutive of nughar. In Arabic, this is a play on words, because of the rhyme between the boy's name and that of the bird. - Translator. This story was reported in Hayat al-Sahabah, 3/149]

“Pride and arrogance come in many forms. One manifestation of pride, which is not easily recognisable, takes the outward form of humility: some people feel the need to outwardly display humility while within they actually think highly of themselves for doing so. People who are genuinely humble don’t have a high opinion of themselves, but truly believe themselves insignificant and humble. An analogy will help us understand what true humbleness is. Imagine a sleeping person: while fast asleep he does not know that he is asleep; it is only after waking up that he realises that he had been asleep. Likewise, a person who is humble does not feel that he is being humble; his behaviour is naturally full of humbleness without him knowing it.” Courtesy of In Shaykh's Company: a blog maintained by the students of Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullah www.shaykh.org

wa'alaykumus salaam from what i remember when i joined his lessons before, you will not need the microphone. The lessons will be posted for us to in our own time. Brother CH has not logged in for a few days so insha Allah hope all is well with him

Complementing a little girl's pretty dress The Prophet was given some clothes including a black Khamisa. The Prophet said, "To whom shall we give this to wear?" The people kept silent whereupon the Prophet said, "Fetch Um Khalid for me." I (Um Khalid) was brought carried (as I was small girl at that time). The Prophet took the Khamisa in his hands and made me wear it and said, "May you live so long that your dress will wear out and you will mend it many times." On the Khamisa there were some green or pale designs (The Prophet saw these designs) and said, "O Um Khalid! This is Sanah." (Sanah in a Ethiopian word meaning beautiful). Bukhari: Volume 7, Book 72, Number 713

<QUESTION> Is it permissible to use Haram medicines? <ANSWER> In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful, The scholars (within the Hanafi School) have differed as to the permissibility of using unlawful (haram) medication. It is related from Imam Abu Hanifa (Allah have mercy on him) - the founder of the school- that it will not be permissible to use anything that is unlawful even for medical purposes. However, according to Imam Abu Yusuf (Allah have mercy on him) it will be permitted. Hence, Imam al-Sarakhsi (Allah have mercy on him) states: “According to Imam Abu Hanifa (Allah have mercy on him), it will not be permitted to drink the urine of animals whose meat is Halal (m: for it is impure and unlawful) for medication or any other purpose, due to the statement of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace): “Indeed Allah Most High has not placed cure in that which He has made unlawful for you”. However, according to Imam Muhammad (Allah have mercy on him), it is permitted to drink the urine of animals whose meat is Halal for medication and other purposes, because it is considered pure according to him. Imam Abu Yusuf (Allah have mercy on him) on the other hand, is of the opinion that it will be permitted to drink it but only for medication purposes, due to the Hadith of al-Urayniyyin (m: where the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) gave permission for some members of the tribe of Urayna to drink the urine of camels as medication).” (al-Mabsut of Imam al-Sarakhsi, 1/60-61, bab al-wudu wa al-ghusl) The fact is that the scholars of the Hanafi School (and also other schools) have differed in this issue due to the apparently conflicting Hadiths found in this regard. Some narrations indicate that it is unlawful to use unlawful medication, whilst others seem to indicate that it will be permitted to use unlawful substances for medical purposes. Narrations indicating impermissibility: 1) Sayyiduna Abu al-Darda (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “Indeed Allah has sent down both illness and it’s cure, and He has appointed a cure for every illness, so treat yourselves medically, but use nothing unlawful.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, no: 3870) 2) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) forbade from (using) impure medicine.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, no: 3866) 3) Tariq ibn Suwayd or Suwayd ibn Tariq asked the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) regarding wine, but he forbade it. He again asked him, but he forbade him. He said to him: “O Messenger of Allah! It is a medicine”. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “No it is a illness.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, no: 3869) 4) Sayyida Umm Salamah (Allah be pleased with her) narrates…....So the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “Indeed Allah Most High has not put cure for you in the unlawful.” (Sahih Ibn Hibban) Evidences of permissibility: 1) Allah Most High says: “He (Allah) has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name has been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, then he is guiltless. For Allah is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful.” (Surah al-Baqarah, V: 173) 2) Sayyiduna Anas (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that some people came from (the tribe of) 'Ukl or 'Urayna and became ill in Madinah. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) commanded them to go to the milk-camels and to drink their urine and milk (for their treatment)….. (Sahih al-Bukhari, no: 231) 3) Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) permitted Zubayr and Abd al-Rahman (Allah be pleased with them both) to wear silk because of the itching they suffered from.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, no: 5501) Wearing of silk has been categorically forbidden for men by the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace), yet it was allowed for medical purposes. 4) Imam Abu Dawud, Imam Nasa’i and Imam Tirmidhi (Allah have mercy on them) relate in their respective Sunan collections, that a Companion (sahabi) by the name of Arfaja ibn Aswad (Allah be pleased with him) had his nose damaged in the battle of kulab. He replaced it first with silver, and then with a nose made of gold, with the order and consent of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace), despite gold being unlawful for men. As far as the narrations indicating the impermissibility of using unlawful medication are concerned, they (according to the scholars who permit using unlawful medication) refer to the situation where an alternative is available. Hence, in such a case, it would indeed be unlawful to avail of Haram medicine. Similarly, it will be Haram to use unlawful medication when there is uncertainty in the medication being a cure for one’s illness; hence, the narrations refer to the situation where there is uncertainty. The great Muhaddith and Hanafi jurist, Allama Badr al-Din al-Ayni (Allah have mercy on him) states in his renowned commentary of Sahih al-Bukhari: “Seeking treatment with unlawful medication is permissible when one is certain of being cured, similar to consuming dead-meat when dying of hunger and drinking alcohol when dying of thirst.” (Umdat al-Qari, 2/649) The same has been mentioned by other scholars also. In light of the above, the majority of the Hanafi jurists (fuqaha) are of the view that it will be permitted to use unlawful substances as medication subject to certain conditions. This viewpoint is based on the position of Imam Abu Yusuf (Allah have mercy on him). Thus, Imam Ibn Nujaym (Allah have mercy on him) states in his renowned al-Bahr al-Ra’iq: “There is a difference of opinion amongst our scholars with regards to using unlawful medication. In al-Nihaya quoting from al-Zakhirah, it is stated that it is permissible to use unlawful medication if it is known that the cure lies in the medication and that no alternative is available.” (al-Bahr al-Ra’iq, 1/116) Imam al-Haskafi (Allah have Mercy on him) states: “The Scholars differed regarding the usage of unlawful medication. The apparent opinion in the (Hanafi) school is that it is haram. However it is said that, it will be permissible when the medicine is known to be effective and that there is no other alternative, similar to the dispensation of drinking alcohol for a person dying of thirst, and the fatwa is given on this opinion.” (See: Radd al-Muhtar ala al-Durr, 1/210) However, many of the Hanafi Fuqaha have subjected this dispensation to the following conditions: 1) It is reasonably known that the medicine will be effective, and is needed; 2) There is no permissible alternative reasonably available; 3) This has been established by an expert Muslim doctor who is at least outwardly upright and god-fearing. (ibid) The above explanation should have answered your question, in that if the medicine is known to be effective and no other alternative is available, it will be permitted to avail of it. This, however, needs to be established by an expert Muslim doctor. Thus, explain the Shariah perspective to an expert Muslim Doctor and seek his advice. And Allah knows best [Mufti] Muhammad ibn Adam Darul Iftaa Leicester , UK

Commencing & Concluding Meals with Salt “It is from the Sunna to commence and conclude one’s meals with salt, rather in doing so; there is cure from seventy illnesses.” (Radd al-Muhtar ala ‘l-Durr al-Mukhtar 6/340.) Read more here: http://www.daruliftaa.com/question?txt_QuestionID=q-14372236

GMWA Halaal Foodguide Service Helping Muslims eat Halaal....confectionary, drinks, snacks....even health and beauty! Search the site for halaal/haraam ingredients or ask questions http://www.foodguide.org.uk/index.php

Use of Kuhl Ibn 'Abbaas Radiyallahu 'Anhu says: "Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said: 'Use kuhl made of ithmid on the eye; it brightens the eyesight, and strengthens and increases the growth of the eye lashes'. (Sayyidina Ibn'Abbaas Radiyallahu'Anhu also used to say) 'Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallarn had a small container for keeping kuhl, from which he applied kuhl in each eye three times every night"'. Commentary Ithmid is a special type of kuhl which is reddish black in colour. It is obtained in the Eastern countries. Some of the learned say it is the Isfahaani kuhl, and other say it is the Totiya. Some 'ulama say, it means those who have good eyesight and it should be used by those with whose eyesight it agrees, otherwise a sick person's eyes will pain more by its use. It is more beneficial to apply kuhl at the time of sleeping as it will remain longer in the eyes, and will penetrate more into the pores. There are different narrations on the number of times it should be applied in each eye. In a few it is stated that it should be applied three times in each eye, as mentioned above. In other narrations it is stated that it should be put three times in the right eye and two times in the left eye. It is supposed that the variations are because of the different times of the narrations. At a certain time, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi Wasallam applied it in one manner and at another time in the other manner. Haafiz Ibn Hajar, Mulla 'Ali Qaari and other 'ulama have preferred the first method (as given in the hadith under discussion). the first method has been narrated many times from Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu' Alayhi Wasallam, as will be seen in the narration that follow. Shamaa-il Tirmidhi Further information Arabic Kohl 1) It is made of is made of galena mineral.There are a lot of misunderstanding about Arab Kohl or Kohl Ithmid. Ithmid is not Antimony Sulphide as many Muslims thought. It was wrongly translated by the Greeks during the ancient Egyptian Rule. In ancient Egyptian language, galena (lead Sulphide) was called Mestem or Stimmi. The word is identical to Greek word Stim or Stibi or Stibium meaning Antimony. According to “The Encyclopedia of Islam (Bosworth et al., 1986) and in “Medieval Islamic Civilization – An Encyclopedia (Meri, 2006) Kohl Ithmid was in fact only galena or lead sulphide. Until today, the kohl found in Middle East, North Africa and Iran are made from lead sulphide or ithmid. 2) When applied on the skin kohl should be difficult to be washed off and does not smudge easily. Kohl should feel like it sticks on the skin firmly. 3) Kohl Ithmid is grey colour. Surma 1) It contains almost no galena.It is made from herbs, pearl, zinc oxide and other ingredients. . Surma or kajal usually contains almost no ithmid (or lead sulphide). So if you are looking to practice the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad pbuh, kohl ithmid is what you are looking for. 2) Surma feels light on the skin 3) Surma is black colour http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?101938-Kohl-Surma-for-eyes

Eating Dates and Cucumber or Watermelon Abdullah ibn Jaafar radiyallahu anhu says, “Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam ate Qith’thaa (cucumbers) with dates.” Commentary Cucumber has a cold effect and dates have a hot one. By combining the two it becomes mild. From this hadith we gather that it is recommended that the effect (hot or cold) of things eaten should be taken into consideration. Cucumber is insipid and tasteless, and dates are sweet which results in the cucumber also tasting sweet. Aisha radiyallah anha reports that, “Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam ate watermelon with fresh dates.” Commentary In Tirmidhi and other narrations, in explaining this, Sayyidina Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam also said, “The cold effect of one removes the heat of the other, and the heat of one removes the cold effect of the other.” Shamaa-il Tirmidhi