Q: I am a PhD, Electronics Engineering, student in Torino, Italy. I have a question regarding chicken meat. There is a slaughter house near our city where Arab Muslim use to slaughter chickens. He slaughters the chicken by hand. Usually he has to slaughter approximately 7,500 chickens in 6 hours. He use to say Takbeer randomly, and not on each individual chicken. He says that it is quite difficult for him to say takbeer on each chicken. We had read in one of Mufti Taqi Usmani Sahib's (db) book that according to Imam Shaafaee (Rehmat Ullah Alaih), it is sunnah to read takbeer during slaughtering. This is the only slaughter house in our knowledge where there is no machine slaughtering of chicken. Now my question is that, if person is slaughtering so many chickens, is it a MUST for him to pass takbeer on each individual. Is it possible for us to eat that chicken if that person is slaughtering correctly according to Fiqh Shafaee?

Q: What is the Islamic etiquette with regards to answering the door when someone knocks. Some people don't answer the door or delay for quite some time before answering the door for no reason at all. In some cases if the person is eating or reading Qur'an, etc, he doesn't answer the door or delays unnecessarily. The person doesn't even announce to the knocker informing him that he has heard him. Is this not inconveniencing the visitors? Please explain the correct conduct and etiquette.

Q: If a man is performing salaah and a woman comes and stands next to him, but she is not in salaah, she is merely standing next to him, does this invalidate the salaah? Is the ruling same for individual salaah as well as jamaat salaah? Furthermore, is there a difference in the masala if the woman is a disbeliever?

Q: What is the ruling regarding birthdays? Our muslims greet one another on this day and feel insulted if one does not greet them. Another issue is regarding birthday cakes, gifts and parties. Please advise.

Q: Is it permissible for a husband to have an  orgasm on his wife whilst she is in the state of haidh. Whilst she is clothed from navel to knee?

Also is it permissible for a husband to fondle his wifes naked breasts while she is in state of haidh?

Q:

1. Is it permissible for a Muslim to sell beer powder? The names of the beer powder in question are mnanti beer powder and kings brew beer powder. According to my knowledge, these items can only be used to make beer.

2. One of the staff members in this business is a Muslim. He works in the receiving and despatch department. Is it permissible for him to do this work?

3. If the company says that the profits from selling these haraam items are totally separate from the other items and it is taken out and spent in different avenues, will it be permissible?

Q: According to Islamic law, women should remain in their homes and only leave their homes if there is an urgent need to, yet we find that there are Ulama who are advertising this program and that program all in the name of uplifting the ummah. Obviously, these women are going to leave their homes to attend these programs and as a woman myself, I know very well as to how women beautify themselves when leaving the home. My question is "Are these Ulama not contradicting themselves so severly?" Many women look at this and think that its totally fine to go because the Moulanas are encouraging it.

Q: I am aware that oral sex is Makrooh.  I have recently come across an article(western health website) stating that impurites from private organs could be dangerous and one should avoid these coming into the mouth. The article suggested using a sheath (alternatively dental dam) to cover the private area of a women before doing such acts. If one does take the above precautions, will the act be permissable?

Q: Is the food that has fallen on the dastarkhaan which we are encouraged to pick up and eat, the mahr for the hoors of Jannah? If not, then is there something to this effect in the riwaayaat?

Q: Is it permissible for male and female cousins to hug each other and be casual with each other? In many families, I notice male and female cousins hugging and speaking casually. In certain families, I also see brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law interacting casually. Could you give some advice on this issue and inform us of what appears in the Qur'aan and Ahaadith in this regard?