Q: I have a question regarding hijab. I am a student in college and because of the commute to and from my college, I live on campus. However, I can’t afford the cost of living in a single room, and so I share a room with another person. This year, I was able to find a Muslim girl to live with, but I wasn’t so lucky with my roommate for next year. I wanted to get a suite with 5 of my other Muslim friends, but we weren’t able to get one because there weren’t enough 6-person suites, so we had to break up. This left me to decide between rooming with a friend who is a non practicing Muslim and a non Muslim friend. For this, I thought the living situation would be the same with both of them. They’re great people, so I thought about who I would feel most comfortable with as a person and a Muslim. Thus I decided to choose my non Muslim friend as my roommate for next year.

My concern now is with hijab. I know that it’s obligatory and I love it’s meaning and it’s significance and I love educating other people about it. What I’m not really clear on however, is whether or not I can take it off in the presence of all women. My mom used to tell me that you can take it off only in a room full of girls. This is also common knowledge among majority of the Muslimah. But for quite some time, my mom has been telling me that you can only take it off when with other Muslim girls or women. Not in front of non Muslim girls or women. I even researched for myself and found this too. But I also found that it doesn’t really matter when thinking logically. A corrupt/non practicing Muslim is just the same as a non Muslim. Thus, if and only if you trust the person can you not wear hijab in front of these types of women.

Considering that I’ll be living with a non Muslim young woman for 8 months (each semester is 4 months), I wanted to directly ask a scholar so that I can be clear on this concept for the sake of my own knowledge and doing the right thing.

Q: I wanted to know how would a sister who no longer wants any kids due to clinical depression and who’s had health issues for over 6 years which affects her daily life, search for a spouse? She is not living a normal life as it is so she can’t take on the responsibility of a child and doesn't want any anyway despite loving kids all her life and knowing it’s a Sunnah. She’s going on 27 and has been wanting to have a companion for years if not a child. It will change her in good ways and help her lower her gaze.

She doesn't have time to go from person to person and and keep mentioning not having kids and being rejected. Also due to some men being desperate to get married, some just agree and say yes it’s ok for the sake of it but have no idea what they are getting themselves in to and how it would affect them in the long term when they see their friends have kids and when their parents start forcing them to have kids so she needs someone who isn’t influenced by people and is sure that they are ok with NOT wanting kids. She's not ever planning to be a 2nd wife either so this sister is making her self very clear before hand and needs to be taken seriously. She doesn’t mind accepting older men who are divorced and already have kids if they can accept to NOT having more otherwise if they do then that's a problem.

There are more people out there now that don’t want kids but it’s hard to find them or brothers who have a medical problem and can't have kids, there is no help to bring these people together.

Q: Mujhe 41 hogaya he, pehle jitni b rishta aayaa mera, mujhe kisi me b dilchaspi yaani ek shadi kerneki khushi nahin hasil huii jiski wajah se pasand apna nahin huii, mein shaadi to kerna chahta hun lekin jo ladki mujhko pasand aajaye, uska chehra, rang, naknaksha per khudah ki kasam jisko me pasand samjha wahan rishta nahin banpaya. Abb to derr hogayi he kya Allah se ummid lagaye rahun, fir kya duaa kerun, meri maa ka b inteqal hochuka abb mere chhote bhai behen shadi kerchuke per mujhe kyaa kerni he apne Rabb se. Kya kerun kuchh samajh me nahin aataa. Allah khair kare. Aamin. Koi wazifa yaa apni gunah ki bakhsishh.

Q: A very slight doubt has recently crept into my mind regarding Tablighi Jamaat, (a few men began using this as an escape from their responsibilities)

1. What is the intention and reason one goes for jamaat?

2. Is it advisable for women to go for Mastoorah jamaat?

3. Can one put Jamaat on the same level of going out in the path of Allah for Jihaad? (So far as reward is concerned?)

Q: I am looking at writing novels which are aimed at young children and adults aged from seven years onwards. Fiction novels can enable people and especially children to develop and improve their language skills, vocabulary and understanding of the world. However, reading novels can also be regarded as a waste of time. My novels would promote good morals but will also inevitably contain some sinful notions such as acts of violence or relationships – the novels are aimed at a young audience so these will still be apparent within the novel. I want to ask three questions regarding the above.

1. Is story fiction writing permissible in Islam?

2. If my intention is to write stories with the aim of helping people, especially children, to improve their vocabulary, language skills and understanding of the world, will I be rewarded by Allah Ta'ala?

3. If I derive an income from story writing, will this income be halaal?

Q: Please advise:

1. What is our belief about the 'Twelve Disciples' mentioned in Christianity? Their names are given as follows: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thaddeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot.

2. What is our belief about 'Paul the Apostle'?

Q: I have two questions on Taqdeer:

1. Is a person considered a Kafir if he or she does not believe in Taqdeer (Destiny)?

2. Can Dua change Taqdeer? I have heard that Dua can change Taqdeer. Please clarify.

Q: It is with great pain in my heart that I message you. After the passing of a very big Alim, Moulana Khalil Sufi rahmatullahi alayh, the Ulama in the city of Toronto are trying to get everyone on board with global moon sighting. Is their any validty to what they say and is this a valid difference of opinion?

Q: Is it permissible to learn kung fu for fitness, self defence and other legal extreme purposes, without reciting any thing, only to learn that art (strictly with out any chants etc.) Could you please tell me? If not then with what niyyat we can learn these kind of things like yoga, exercises (strictly without any chanting for only permissible and clear intention).

Q: Is it permissible to utilize government funds (especially in such a country were Hindus are rulers and where unislamic laws are enforced) where the meat of a pig is not considered haraam. Where alcoholic substances are sold without any ban. Where Muslims are treated as downtrodden and ignorant. In such a country where all means of earning are against the principles of Islam, can we use goverment funds for construction of toilets and bathrooms in the premises of a masjid (mosque) only meant for making wudhu etc. These things can be used only during prayer times because they remain locked almost all the times and people cannot use the all the time.