Q: My wife's family is non-muslim. There is a engagement function we have been invited to. We have not attended any such functions in the past but are concerned that we may be breaking family ties, especially since other Muslim family members that attend these functions. Our concerns about these functions are that there is no purdah, there may be music and alcohol, etc. My wife and I stand firm that we should continue to stay away from these functions. Please advise whether we are doing the right thing.

Q:

1) Whilst on Safar, are the four sunnats also reduced to two rakaats or does that rule only apply to the four fardh?

2) Whilst on Safar, is the 2 sunnah of Fajr compulsory and will one be considered sinful if they omit it?

3) If a person joins the Jamaat late and misses 3 rakaats in 4 rakaat fardh, they will stand up after the Imam makes Salaam, read 1 rakaat and sit for Tashahud again before performing the other 2 rakaats. Kindly explain which rakaats the Surah should be recited and which rakaats it should be omitted?

Q: Recently I underwent many tough circumstances. At one point I lost the will to face the world, but Allah Ta'ala made my friends mother a way to my easiness. She gave me correct guidance and is giving me knowledge of Islam. I just wanted to know if she is a mahram or a na mahram to me?

Q: A mother who has a son and a daughter has made her jewellery into two parcels and put the name of the daughter on one parcel and the name of the son on one parcel. Without the knowledge of the son, she gave the daughter to keep both parcels in her safe and said when she passes away she doesn't want fighting, therefore she has done this. What is the law regarding this jewellery presently and what are the repercussions at the time of the mother's death. The father is alive presently.

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?