Q: There is a lot of fitnah happening in Saudi Arabia; the government is allowing a lot of haraam there. The Hajj is being used by the government to extort money from Muslims. Muslims are committing a lot of haraam near the Kaaba; there are reports of men touching women's buttocks during the circumambulation of the Kaaba. Many are taking photos inside the Hajj to the point where it's almost impossible to avoid being recorded. 

Would it be permissible to postpone the Fard Hajj until things improve in Saudi Arabia, thus allowing for a purer Hajj without involving haram?

Q: I collected funds from people specifically for someone's surgery, and these funds include Sadaqah (charity). However, now that I have the money, the person scheduled for surgery is refusing to go ahead with it or is asking to use the money for their personal expenses instead. 

Furthermore, my own parents are suggesting that since we are also needy, we should use this money for our own medical checkups and medicines. 

In this situation, what is the Islamically permissible course of action for the person who collected the money?

Q: Can publishing deeni quotes, duas, etc. be done in a group where men and women are together even though they don't meet but talk via email, WhatsApp and then publish deeni matters?

Q: Is it better to refrain from hitting a child when they do something wrong?

Q: I have a Muslim helper. She has been having problems with where she is staying and needs help with rent. Is it permissible for me to pay her rent from my zakaat money? That's besides her monthly wages. This will be me paying her rent from my zakaat money to help her out.

Q: Please advise with regard to the following aspects in connection with domestic helpers: 

1. Is it necessary to fix the daily/weekly times of work, or is it okay to have a casual arrangement, such as starting and finishing on flexible times, but getting the work completed? 

2. If there is an occasion or family function, the helpers are automatically expected and required to assist with all the set up and clean up etc. This can go up to late in the evening, even after 10 pm. Is this acceptable as part of the "understanding" between the parties that such events will come and the helpers will be required to work? 

3. The helper does not work on Sundays. If any occasion or family function falls on a Sunday, does the helper have to be separately remunerated for the Sunday work? 

4. Almost every few months, we have guests who stay for a few days. Sometimes, it is an entire family. This obviously increases the workload of the helper in many aspects, such as cleaning, washing and ironing of clothes, etc. Does this have to be separately remunerated? 

5. If in the past the worker was made to work overtime without any remuneration, or was given extra tasks which took more than the normal time, out of negligence and without realising that this was not correct in terms of shariah, how does one now make amends for this? 

If any helper worked in this manner and has left and there is no trace of the person, how does one make amends? 

6. Some helpers grudgingly accept a lesser amount than the general norm or what they are happy to work for, due to desperately wanting a job. How do I ascertain if the wage being paid is fair and I am not exploiting the helper in any way? Is there a way to determine what is fair and what is exploitation? 

7. Can salary be deducted for damage caused by the helper due to negligence or lack of due attention while engaging in the tasks? 

8. Any general advice with regard to employment and treatment of the domestic helpers will be much appreciated.

Q: If I go to the musjid and someone mistakenly took my shoe and lefts their shoe, Can I take that person's shoe?

Q: When we are in the masjid and iqaamah has already started, sometimes a person in the first row moves back to make space if another learned Maulana arrives, even though there are already a few learned Ulama present in the first row. 

Should we move from our place to give space to a Maulana at that time, or should we remain focused and avoid movement so we can prepare ourselves to stand before Allah? What is the correct adab according to the sunnah?

Q: If a person purchases an item on a payment plan, agreeing to pay the price in fixed monthly installments over a set period, and the contract includes a clause stating that if the buyer defaults on any single installment, then the entire outstanding balance becomes immediately due and payable. Is such a condition valid and permissible?

Q: Is it permissible to read salaah on the mataaf in jamaat, as this is technically reading in front of the imam? Previously the imaams would perform on the mataaf/hateem, but not anymore.