Status of a Beard

Q: 

  1. Is it sunnat, waajib or fardh to keep a beard?
  2. When I keep a beard it only troubles me. I keep scratching, rubbing (even in salaah), and applying lotion. Is it permissible for me to shave?

Vaginal discharge

Q: I received the following message on my bbm and I would like to verify the contents before I forward it to anybody as there is no source attached to it. 

Q: What is the Islamic ruling on vaginal discharge that females commonly experience? Many ladies are confused about this issue, especially when they get different answers from various Ulema.

A: There are basically three types of vaginal fluid that Shariah has ruled on. Two are mentioned above, viz. Moisture inside the vagina, secreted from membranes that line the vagina, and fluid that flows from the cervix into the vagina. The third type of moisture is that which is found on the outer labia or the lips of the vagina. Sometimes this fluid also flows onto the area outside the vagina. Medically fluids that exit from the vagina can come from the cervix or neck of the uterus, or from glands inside the vagina itself. Sometimes the source of these fluids is attributed to the fallopian tubes. Clearly this is difficult for a woman to determine. Therefore, the following rules, based largely on the view of Imam Abu Hanifa (rahmatullahi alayhi) will perhaps ease matters for our sisters: 

1) Moisture that is secreted from the lining of the vagina is a matter of dispute among the former Jurists. Imam Abu Hanifa, and majority of the Shaafi’ Scholars hold that such moisture is paak or clean, and does not nullify wudhu if it flows out. We, therefore, maintain that the normal discharge a women experiences will not nullify wudhu. 

2) A ‘normal’ discharge is usually clear, cloudy or whitish, moderate in quantity, thin or slightly viscous, and with a mild odour. This does NOT break wudhu. 

3) A discharge that is yellowish or greenish, and very thick, with a strong odour or bad stench should be regarded as impure and will nullify wudhu, for such a discharge is definitely from an area beyond the vagina, and may include the fallopian tubes, the womb, or ovaries. 

4) Underwear that is soiled by this fluid has to be washed. Women who suffer excessive discharge of this nature shall have to use pads to absorb the flow and thus protect the underwear. 

Fixing a monetary punishment in order to refrain from sin

Q: Sometimes I fix some monetary punishment (verbally/written as document/mentally assume) to do or not to do a job in future. It helps me very much from saving myself from many wrong doings. However sometimes, I fail to maintain it and make the wrong doing. Now my inquiry is: 

  1. Is it wajib to pay the punishment money since I did not utter Allah’s name i.e. Kosom or Mannoth on Allah’s name?
  2. What is the Islamic ruling in this issue?

Hurmat-e-Musahara

Q: Can you tell me does the following count as hurmut musahara:

If say a man is sitting in a car where someone whom hurmut musahara can happen with is sitting next to him or he is lying his head on their lap, as an example, he is a young adult and is ill. Now he gets an erection due to him having thoughts of other women or seeing other women on tv or on the streets whom marriage is allowed for him. The erection is NOT at all due to the person whom hurmut musahara can happen with being next to him nor is there any lust in his heart on the person nor is his intention of any kind on the person whom hurmut musarhara can happen with, not in the slightest but erection only happens due to him thinking of other women or seeing other women whom he can marry. But due to sitting in a car and the person is sitting next to him or his head in their lap some of his body parts like legs is touching them. Does this count?

Also Can Hurmut Musahara happen between a man and his son?