Contraception

Q: Is contraception allowed in Islam? As a medical practitioner, can one issue contraceptive methods to one’s patient? Often, one interacts with non-Muslims who require contraception. If one is aware that this patient is involved in pre-marital/illicit relationships, is this allowed?

Termination of pregnancy

Q: Is termination of pregnancy permissible? if yes, in what circumstances is it allowed and not allowed? As a medical practitioner, one is allowed to refuse to perform an abortion. However, one is required to refer the patient to where it could be performed. Is this allowed?

Taking one's wife back after issuing one Talaaq

Q: Although there was no real issue between me and my wife, her daughter had been a problem from day one. However to cut a long story short, My wife stated her reasons why she wanted a divorce and I reluctantly gave her 1 talak with the hope that we could reconcile. I did not want the divorce and still don't. However, she proclaims the marriage is over and now im confused. Can you clarify the situation?

Using the Madrasah Lillah and Zakaat funds for other Deeni activities

Q: A certain madrasah utilises lillah and zakaat to run its affairs. The zakaat is used to pay the fees of the students of the madrasah and therefore becomes madrasah money. Also the madrasah is under and organisation/board that oversees the running of the madrasah. This organisation/board pays the fees of the ustaads of said madrasah. Besides the activities that are directly involved with running the madrasah, eg: feeding the students, transporting the students to and from the madrasah, lights, water, etc, will it be permissible to use the funds in other avenues which are not directly involved with the taleem and running of the madrasah? Can the madrasah funds be used to buy plane tickets for the ustaads to attend jors in cape town?can the funds be used to book in to hotel rooms if the ustaads are going to teach in a town that is 2 hours away from the madrasah? s it permissible to use the funds in other similar activities as mentioned above? Please explain in detail which avenues will it be permissible to use the funds and what will be the procedure to follow before these funds can be used?

Changing one's home town

Q: I had a house in my home country (Country A), then moved to another country (Country B) for a long period, but kept my house in Country A. After a while I decided to leave country B and move to a third country (Country C). I left country B permanently, but before going to Country C, I went back to visit my house in Country A, intending to stay there less than 15 days. At this point I didn't have any home apart from my house in Country A, but I, as mentioned, intended to leave soon, and find a place to stay in Country C. My question is: should I have shortened my prayers during the visit of my house in Country A?

Hunting and Hunting Licenses

Q: Please could you let us know the Islamic viewpoint regarding the following matters related to hunting:

  1. In Zambia, the government sells licenses for hunting. Prospective buyers firstly have to pay a non-refundable fee in order to attain the right to bid. Thereafter, they can submit bids for licenses. Is this payment of a non-refundable fee permissible?
  2. Once bids are submitted, the government through its discretion approves certain bids and rejects others. A person whose bid is accepted for a certain animal e.g. a buffalo, can go out and hunt the buffalo himself, or even sell the license to a third party at a profit. Is this reselling of the license permissible?
  3. Government rules state that when the animal is shot and wounded, the license holder will be regarded as having attained the provisions of the license, regardless of whether he actually manages to catch the animal or not. If we regard the actual bay’ to take place when the hunter gets hold of the animal, then a situation might arise where he doesn’t get any mabee’ or he gets a dead animal (maytah). Please advise on this aspect.      
  4. The government has demarcated national parks in which wild animals are confined. Would this be regarded as Ihraaz by the government? Furthermore, would it be permissible for a hunter to hunt more animals than what he has paid for i.e. poaching? If he does, will it be permissible for him to consume the meat thereof?