Q: I am really very frustrated with everything. It looks like I have nothing to do with life. First I was not obedient to Allah but I prayed namaaz. Then from the past two years I started to go to Dars and attending lectures on Islam and I got so near to Allah. I told each and every problem to Allah and I felt so happy with that. It was just like Allah is in front of me, listening to me, understanding me. Sometimes I just cry and I feel like Allah is listening to my cry and I don't have to say a word. I am so alone from the past two years. I left every sin that I did but there is no sukoon in my life from the past few months. I am going far from Allah and I don't know what is the reason because I left every sin. Now I am again getting into some sort of them because fear surrounds me everywhere. I never made Allah Happy neither human being. I do a work with good intentions, for helping others, but that thing goes wrong and people start thinking that I am not a good person. Now I am just barehanded. Nothing is with me neither Allah, nor my family, nor anyone else. I have lost my way. I just want to die and meet Allah. Bas, I need nothing more. Zindagi ka maqsad khatam ho chuka hai. Kindly help me. I have no friend to tell my problems. I can't trust human beings.

Q: I have gotten a proposal from a brother which I was going to accept but due to some reason we cannot go ahead. He has a mental block. We would like to marry but this block is stopping us.

Q: Does it say anywhere in Qur'an or Hadith that it is ok for a man to keep his wife with their parents and his brother? From my understanding he needs to give full ownership (meaning like the keys of the house showing full trust) of house to his wife and if he affords he should keep his wife in a separate place not in same with his brothers and parents.

Q: I have been facing some very very tough situations from many years. I was too sad and I gave up on living but somebody told me that Allah Ta'ala puts people he loves into all kinds of situations and troubles. If this is true, then I will face every problem happily. Could you please clarify this matter for me?

Q: My understanding is that for zakat; Nisab amount should be kept for more than one year. My question is if someone gets 10 Lakh two weeks before Ramadhan, does he need to pay Zakat on this amount which came to his account only two weeks before Ramadhan and is not older than one year?

Q: My question is in our local masjid there is a hafiz of Quran of around 14 years old who also knows the rules and regulations regarding imaamat and also attained puberty but his beard hasn't developed yet. Would it be permissible for him to lead or not?

Q: How do I advise a non-Muslim that is going through severe depression and has been suicidal for many years? He is confiding in me. He does have financial problems, but there is much more that he has not shared. I feel that he would be insulted if I try offer any financial help. He says that he finds no true benefit with counselors or psychologists etc. I feel he has some mental condition. He says that he day-dreams about dying and is not happy with the materialistic society. Anyhow, I am just trying to raise his spirits and give him hope. Is this correct? Please advise.

Q:

1. How long was the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam's) beard?

2. Did the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) trim his beard if it was longer than a fist?

3. What is the Shariah ruling of keeping a beard longer than a fist?

4. Is the following information about the length of the beard correct? Please provide reference.

THE BEARD: Abū Zur'ah (one of Salaf) said: “Abū Hurayrah used to take a hand hold from his beard then cut what was more than a fistful.” [مصنف ٨\٣٥٦]

Imām Abū Ḥaneefah رحمه الله: “It is said; 'Whoever has a long beard (more than fistful), he has no intellect'.” [الثقات لابن حبان ٩\١٦٢]

Imām ash-Shāfi'ī رحمه الله: “When the beard is lengthened (more than a fist-length), the intellect is shortened.” [الوافي بالوفيات ٢\١٢٣]

al-Qāḍī 'Iyyaḍ رحمه الله: “As for taking from (a beard longer than a fistful), its length and its width, it is good.” [إكمال المعلم ٢\٣٦]

Shaykh al-Albānī: “It (trimming hair from beard that exceeds fist-length) is reported from Companions & no one opposed them.” [الهدى والنور]

Q: I am a 20 year old female. I have recently noticed a problem in my hair, it's thin, damaged and there are lots of patches. Unfortunately I once straightened my hair and those chemicals destroyed it. I was advised to shave my head. Will it be okay if I do so as it is not for a fashion statement/imitating males? I do happen to cover my hair at all times.

Q: I know that Sufis practise Tawajjuh on their mureeds so that they become more inclined towards practising on Deen. How do they practise it? Is it also allowed for a "basic" Muslim to do Tawajjuh so that some Muslims become more inclined towards Deen or some kaafirs also become inclined towards Islam? If yes, what is the method of Tawajjuh?