When does the iddat commence?

Q: Three men went off together. They got lost for three years. And after three years, 2 of them turned up. On asking them where is there third companion, they said he passed away a year back. Is the dead man's wife suppose to observe iddat after receiving the news that her husband passed away last year? If yes, what is the appropriate period of her iddat?

Surah 14, verse 35

Q: And (recall) when Ibrahim (Abraham) submitted: ‘O my Lord, make this city (Mecca) a land of peace and keep me and my children from idol-worship. (Quraan 14:35)

1. Does this mean the dua is specifically for the biological children of Ibrahim alayhissalam (i.e. only Ismail alayhissalam and Ishaq alayhissalam, or does it refer to every single descendent of Ibrahim alayhissalam?

2. If it indeed is referring to every single descendent of Ibrahim alayhissalam, then what can be said about the polytheists amongst the Quraysh? Was not Ibrahim alayhissalam also their ancestor? If you kindly clarify this.

Safar distance

Q:

1- Is the following research of the distance of Safar According to the Hanafī Madhhab correct 48 Shar‘ī miles equals (55 miles/88.8 kilometres English miles)Link: http://www.askimam.org/public/announcement/85

2- What is the research of Hadhrat Mufti Ebrahim Salejee Saheb D.B and other senior Muftis regarding the Distance of Safar According to the Hanafī Madhhab in English miles?

Drop Shipping

Q: Is the trading concept of 'Drop Shipping' permissible? If yes, please provide some tips/advice on the correct methods to use as a Muslim trader. There are a few issues that can occur. Examples:

-Seller does not have physical stock of the item.

-Seller does not see the condition of the item (as it goes directly to the customer).

-Seller may realize that the supplier is out of stock on an item after the customer makes a purchase.

Your assistance will greatly be appreciated.

Washing impure clothes in a washing machine

Q: I live in a hostel where we have a card operating washing machine which has a wash cycle of complete 30 minutes. Are then my clothes regarded as pure? After that I place my clothes on a rope basically a wire which even non Muslims share. Keeping in mind that they may keep their impure clothes on the wire and then if I keep my pure clothes on it do they become impure again? On the wire there is no visible najasat. Will my clothes be pure?

Returning an Item

Q: I purchased an item from a certain Muslim business man. I no longer require the item. I produced my slip as required. I was refused a refund but was told to take something from the store to the value of the money spent. The fact is I don't require anything from that store.

Slander and fornication

Q: I was asked this question by a Christian. If you can help me by answering this it will have a great effect on a fellow Christian brother in humanity. Therefore here is the question:

1. Can slander of a chaste women be forgiven? Yes [24:5], No [24:23].

Abrogation? The words of the lord are perfect in truth and justice; there is none who can change His words."[Sura 6:115] Also see 6:34 and 10:64. But then Allah (Muhammad?) sees the need to exchange some of them for "better ones"[Surah 2:106,16:101] and it is not for ignorant people to question Allah because of such practises!

2. What is the punishment for adultery? Flogging with 100 stripes (men and women) [Sura 24:2],"confine them to houses until death do claim them (lifelong house arrest -for the women) [4:15]. For men:"If they repent and amend, leave them alone"[sura 4:16].

Sura 24:2 contradicts both the procedure for women and men in sura 4 and why? Is the punishment for women and men equal in sura 24 but different in sura 4?

Repenting from sins

Q: I am 19 years old. I always try my best to avoid sins and Almighty Allah saved me every time from sins especially from zina. There's a married girl in our flat who asked me many time for zina but Alhamdulillah each and every time I refused. One day, I don't know what happened to me, I just walked to her door, entered the house. Here, we hugged and kissed each other and did nothing else. We didn't take off our clothes. While kissing, suddenly I realized that we are doing wrong. I just pulled her away and walked back to my house. Now, I'm feeling extremely shameful of my actions. I want to commit suicide but I can't do this. I want to make Tawbah. I want to become virtuous again. How can I make tawbah and become virtuous?

Tahajjud Salaah

Q: Can you please advise the correct way to perform Tahajjud salah (night prayer)? Is it permissible to pray it after the Isha prayer? Is it permissible to wake up at a certain time where I can pray my Tahajud and an hour later I can pray Fajar? Please advise the best way to focus in namaz, due to some of the stressful conditions I am going through, those thoughts come and go in my mind during Salah. How can I stop that or focus more on salaah?