Q: I have been asked a question by someone of the following matter. Just setting out the case. The person needing the advice is a businessman who is dealing with an agent of another party. The agent comes with a tender to provide in bulk an item for the third party. By agreement the businessman tells the agent of the third party that he will give him 7.5 percent commission on the amount of the bulk. In order to give the 7.5 percent commission, the businessman inflates his usual price of the item in order to incorporate the 7.5 commission i.e if the businessman would usually sell an item for R10 000 he would now quote the price as R10 750 so that the agent of the third party can get the commission of R750 from the businessman . The way in which this works is that the agent will get the quotation approved to the amount of R10 750 and get the cheque to that amount of which he will give R10 000 to the businessman and will retain the R750 for himself and the goods will then be supplied. Bare in mind that the businessman still only makes an actual invoice of R10 000 and the transaction takes place only between the businessman and the agent of the 3rd party in which the 3rd parties information is not disclosed to the businessman. Is such business practice permissible? If not, what is the way forward in keeping this business relationship, again baring in mind that if the businessman does not give any incentive to the agent the agent will no longer transact with the businessman and together with that the businessman does want to lose out on the profit based on his normal prices and hence inflates the price to provide an incentive to the agent of the third party. I am an academic and I need more insight on the islamic perspective and permissibility of such a case and what is the best course to follow.

Q: My question is about names of Allah. While I was studying about names of Allah I found that many charts available in Internet contain unauthentic names of Allah so I tried to find out the authenticity of some of the names, but I couldn't find any reference for some of them. I heard that I can't deny any names of Allah and also I can't affirm new one. So in this situation how could I believe those names ? I can't deny them because I didn't give a reference as proof same as I can't affirm them because also I don't have any proof to say those names are authentic.

Q: I have a question about an event that took part almost two months ago but the question came in my mind this week. About two months ago, my wife and I got in a very heated argument and I got extremely mad. Due to my anger, I wanted to emotionally upset her so I told her that I am thinking of divorce (honestly speaking, the thought or idea of divorce did come up, but I didn't want to do it - I only mentioned it to her so I could emotionally upset her). So, she started crying. Then, I told her that if I write it on my arm, then it will take place. Then, I wrote "Thinking of divorce" on my right arm and since she was crying (and couldn't see), I told her, "Well, I wrote it..." (I did write the word divorce, but the complete phrase was 'Thinking of Divorce' and she couldn't see the full phrase. The only reason I did this was, again, to emotionally upset her). Then, after maybe two minutes, she read the phrase and said "What does this mean?" I told her that I only wrote "Thinking of divorce" so I could threaten her and upset her. Then, after about a few hours when we calmed down, we both apologised and we both moved on. However, the question came to my mind did this actually count as a divorce at all or not? I asked my wife and she thinks that maybe this counted as the first divorce that was revoked. I, on the other hand, due to my intention to not divorce her at all, do not think this was actually a divorce. Moreover, she was near her menses and we had relations before that, so I knew I would have to wait until after her menses to actually divorce her (but again, I never intended on doing that). So does this count as a divorce?

Q: What if there is drought of water and there is no water for ghusal and a young boy has ihtilaam, how can he perform namaaz?

Q: I am a staunch Hanafi and believe that Taqleed of one mazhab is important as explained by our elders. I have a question in my mind and have been thinking about it lately. I hope you will guide me in this regard. As it is known,that there is difference of halaal and haram also among the four mazhabs. So does that mean that on the day of Qiyamat, will we be judged according to our mazhab? Say a Hanafi does an act which is sinful in Hanafi mazhab, he will be punished? And a Maliki will not be punished for that same act because it is permissible according to Maliki mazhab?

Q: I had purchased a computer from a shop. There are a few software which are not genuine. They are pirated version like windows etc. So is it permissible to use such software? We use this computer for our work, so will our income be lawful?

Q: I just want to know if loud zikr in a congregation is permissible because some say it is and some say it's bida. Please give me an explanation. Didn't our beloved prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) or those around him practice this kind of zikr?

Q: From the below ibaarat it is understood that the following two things will be with tashabbuh:

1) قصد (to be مشابه)

2) ميلان

So if the any of the above is not found this will not be tashabbuh. Is this correct?

Q: My haidh is very irregular, so much so that it is extremely difficult to calculate it correctly. When I am not sure as to whether I am experiencing haidh or istihaza, should I continue reading namaaz till I am certain?

Q: I have a question regarding some issues with my husband which I have raised with him but which he fails to address. For starters my husband D has had no intimate attraction towards me since marriage, he is capable of going through at least 2 weeks on end with no worry, he claims he is not like other men who only want women for one thing, yet I feel so unattractive as he always admires other women but barely complements me unless I'm upset. Secondly he never speaks to me about his day or confides in me he only speaks to his mother, he will lie in bed or sit with me and sms her and when we visit her he will start talking non stop to her. If I ask him why he does this he says I must find out one time when he is telling her I can hear or sometimes he says I was talking so he couldn't tell me, but what about all they sms each other. I have started being quiet as I am talkative to see if it makes a difference, but all he does is play on his phone and go to sleep not talk to me. I long to see him, I look forward to meeting him, knowing how his day has been and in the end it's an effort for him to interact with me. We have only been married 2 years and now have a child but this marriage is really unfulfilling and depressing. He always does what his mother wants, never asks me what I want, if I have plans or anything as such it's like I don't exist. Please don't get me wrong, I have no problem with him doing for his mother but what are my rights and options, am I meant to go on miserably like this? Please advise.