Ikram Hawramani's Blog, page 5

Are savings accounts halal if you give away the interest in charity?

Assalamualaikum, most reputable banks near me gives interest for a savings account, there are 2 Muslim banks but they don't have the best customer service reviews. I need to open a savings account but I don't want any Interest attached. A Muslim friend of mine with the same issue opened an account but records the amount of interest added each time and doesn't spend that amount. Is this allowed? Jzk

Alaikumassalam wa rahmatullah,

Why not just keep it in a checking account? Unfortunately even when keeping money in a checking account, we are still involved in usury because the bank uses the money to make interest-bearing loans to other customers. So ideally we should use Islamic banks if this option is available at all.

It is not considered a good thing to do anything that earns interest even if you give away the interest in charity. But if a person has no choice, then it is permitted to do so and give the money away.

Another option would be to keep the money in a mutual fund that earns money from Islamic bonds, such as the Azzad Wise Capital Fund (WISEX). This in general has higher earnings than savings accounts and helps fund halal projects, but it is slightly riskier, although nowhere as risky as investing in stocks. To invest in WISEX, you just need a free account from a site like TD Ameritrade, then you can deposit money into the account and “buy” shares in the mutual fund. It can all be done online.

Can we give sadaqa (alms) to non-Muslims?

Salam, brother! my question is whether we can give alms, sadqa to non Muslims? or is it obligatory to be given to only Muslims?

Alaikumassalam wa rahmatullah,

Absolutely, we are required to take care of the needy regardless of their religion. The only controversial issue is whether the obligatory zakat alms can be given to non-Muslims. It is generally believed that Muslims should be given preference when it comes to giving zakat, but if there are non-Muslims in extreme need then they too can be given it to save their lives.

But when it comes to ordinary charity, we can give it to anyone, Muslim or non-Muslim, and for any cause that is meant to make the world a better place.

References:

Fatwa from Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi (Arabic PDF)

Can women do dhikr without hijab?

Brother 1. Can women do tasbeeh and tahleel and adhkar without covering the head? 2. Also i have often heard people say that you go to Kaaba by invitation. You will ONLY go for Hajj when invited by Allah. Is that true?

Yes, women can do all of those and also read Quran without wearing hijab. A woman should only cover up for salah. Regarding being “invited” by God, it just means that when God wants you to go, then He will make the means possible. And if He doesn’t want you to go, then there is no power in the world that can make it possible.

How long does maghrib last?

How long does maghrib last? For example here in the uk sunset is at 3:51. For whatever reason something delayed us would praying at say half 4 still be valid?

Maghrib lasts from sunset to the end of the evening twilight (i.e. until the time of the Isha athan). The time in which the maghrib prayer is valid is usually a little over an hour after the maghrib athan.

The Islamic view of the Netflix series The Messiah (Dajjal)

Salam! Have you seen the new series netflix trailer called 'the messiah"? They're apparently making a show about Dajjal!

Second question: What is your take on the Netflix trailer of a show called messiah which people are saying it’s about the Dajjal? a lot of negative reactions and people saying they are scared, but Allah already told us about this

I think they are just trying to make money. I do not consider Dajjal important and I am skeptical of most of the hadiths about him, so he is the last thing I would worry about. I hope to one day do a thorough study of the hadiths to find out what exactly the truly authentic hadiths tell us about him. Most of the hadiths are rather low quality, so most of what you have heard about Dajjal is probably just superstition, fabrications and things learned from Christians about the anti-Christ.

Is meat from Christians halal?

I'm a revert and my parents always cook non halal meat for dinner (no pork). A somali brother said to me it's ok as it's "christian" meat. What can I do? because out of respect and manners I eat it. Doesn't this invalidate my salah or du'a?

Unfortunately meat and poultry from Christians is not halal because they do not follow Biblical laws on food. Only meat that is kosher-certified (”halal” for practicing Jews) is also halal to Muslims. So any meat or poultry in the West that’s not certified halal or kosher is unlawful for Muslims to eat according to the European Council for Fatwa and Research, and I prefer their opinion. They studied the way animals and birds are slaughtered in Western countries and found out that the methods used do not satisfy Islamic requirements. Only kosher and halal-certified meat and poultry satisfy Islam’s requirements.

The only relevant opinion I can find on the issue of whether one’s prayer will be valid is by the 19th century Maliki jurist Muhammad al-Desouki, who says that if someone eats pork by mistake, they should try to throw it up if it is still in their stomach, otherwise their prayer will not be valid. But if the meat has passed the stomach, the person’s prayer will be valid since there is nothing they can do about it.

You can try to find halal or kosher butchers in your city and ask your family to get their meat from there.

Best wishes.

The proper way to sit during salah and where to gaze during tashahhud

Salam! I have two questions about prayer: during tashahud, do you have to look at your raised finger and does not looking invalidates the prayer? What about the tashahud position: do you have to sit on your left foot? I find that that position difficult and I've always sat on my both crossed feet, is that wrong? Thanks!

Alaikumassalam wa rahmatullah,

There are different opinions on that and I prefer the Maliki opinion that there is no need to look at the finger during tashahhud, and I prefer the opinion that we can look comfortably ahead and down (such as at the place where we put our foreheads at prostration, although it doesn’t have to be strictly there, just whatever is most comfortable).

As for the sitting position, it is permitted to sit in any comfortable position as long as it generally resembles the common way people sit in the prayer. So according to Imam al-Nawawi and others there is no issue with sitting on your crossed feet, which is in fact what I do. Sitting on the left foot is considered Sunna, it is not obligatory.

References:

Fatwa 1 from the Qatari Fatwa Authority (Arabic PDF)Fatwa 2 from the Qatari Fatwa Authority (Arabic PDF)Fatwa 3 from the Qatari Fatwa Authority (Arabic PDF)

Is it bad to get doubts about Islam?

Salaam, I read Quran daily, pray 5x on time and read durood. Yet sometimes I get these terrible thoughts and doubts about Islam and I don't want these thoughts. I am terrified that I am hard hearted and Allah will be unhappy with me. Jazak khair Allah for any advice

Alaikumassalam wa rahmatullah,

That’s perfectly natural. I have read many books by atheists and they would occasionally make me doubt things. Just keep sincerely asking God for His guidance and He will find the right way to guide you. That’s all you need, a sincere desire to seek the truth, and the humility to ask God for guidance.

Is it permitted to listen to Christmas songs?

Assalamualaikum. I grew up watching a lot of cartoons and I still really like them because to me, animation is like a fusion of storytelling and illustrating (2 of my favourite things). So, I remembered watching Barbie in A Christmas Carol and took a liking in Christmas songs; like Jingle Bells and We Wish You A Merry Christmas. I didn't know the songs' meaning that time, so I thought it was okay. [p1]

[p2]But, I found that I still like their melodies and listen to them occasionally although I already knew the meaning. So, is it forbidden to listen to Christmas songs? I’m not exactly sure what’s my intention, but I always see it as a childhood memory. But if it’s forbidden, I’ll try to stop. Thank you

Meaning of taqwa

Salam. Please explain about تقوى

Alaikumassalam wa rahmatullah,

It just means to be “cautious” about God, meaning that you keep His presence in mind so that you act respectfully toward this presence, for example by not committing sins.