Q: Can a husband marry his stepdaughter or even his own daughter and the marriage still be valid with his wife?

Q: My question is related to Salaah and flying by air.

Sometime ago we flew from Australia to Canada. We set out at around 7.00 am on Tuesday, and we reached at around 7.15 am Tuesday, on the same date. The flight was 17 hours, and in this time we didn't read any Salaah. In fact, the next Salaah we read was Dhuhr almost 24 hours later. Is this correct?

However, when we were returning to Australia, we lost a day, so basically a whole day's worth of Salaah became qadha. We jumped a whole day, or we lost a whole day, when we were crossing the international date line. How does this work? How do we calculate Salaah in these situations? Were we supposed to read any Salaah on the way to Canada keeping in mind the Hadith about after Dajjaal comes one day will be equal to a year, and so forth. Hence Salaah would have been calculated according to its normal time, as Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Salam had advised his Sahaabah? 

Q: After asking my husband for talaaq for the umpteenth time (because of consistent pathological lying, not giving any of my rights as a wife, not respecting me, tarnishing my reputation with his friends and mistresses, giving his first wife a comfortable life and not even giving me any of my expenses, mentally and financially abusing me, etc.) yesterday he finally said "Fine, take it (the talaaq)". Prior to that we didnt have any relationship for the last 8 months. Afterwards when I asked him to give me talaaq in front of my parents, he is saying he will give it when the time is right, and knowing him, he will always find excuses since he doesn't wish me to move on with my life and he wants to have full control over our son (though he hardly pays for the latter's expenses), that's the only reason he doesn't want to give me talaaq. I want to know if the talaaq he gave in the first instance is valid. 

Q: Can men and women wear perfume or deodorant?

Q: I broke few oaths made in my lifetime. In order to do the kaffarah, I have to feed 10 persons 2 times or buy clothes or fast for 3 days. Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Allah, I can afford to sponsor food for 10 persons twice. But it’s difficult for me to feed the same 10 persons twice. Can I feed 20-30 persons once or shall I fast 3 days (easiest option)?

Q: Can I work in this job?

“Radiology Support Workers are valued members of the Radiology department. We are now seeking to expand this team and are looking to recruit a caring, hardworking and enthusiastic individual. You should be reliable, self-motivated and flexible with excellent communication and inter-personal skills.

You will work closely with Radiologists, Radiographers, Administrative staff and other Radiographic Assistants. Duties will be in all areas of the department and include; assisting with patients and examinations, room preparation, data input onto the department computer system ordering and maintenance of department stock, general housekeeping, undertaking clerical duties and liaising with wards and clinicians.

We are a forward-looking department committed to training and role development.”

Amongst the requirments of working in a hospital is obviously respecting all people and treating all like equals. I worry that if I apply for the job saying that I agree with this, I’d be lying, because realistically it isnt true. For example, men and women arent equal and another example - what if a patient/co worker is homosexual, I dont agree and respect their haraam practices.

Q: Whenever I am fasting and feel something in my mouth but I am not sure if it is actually something or nothing, can I just swallow it? 

Q: I live in Oman and I am going for umrah. First I will go to Madinah then I will go to jeddah and last I will go to Makkah for umrah. So from where should I wear the ihram for umrah?

Q: For a long time I did not follow much of Islam, in fact, very little. I made a very major sin last year @ the age of 34 and that was my turning point. I had gone from praying one salaat every now and then and if I did two on the same day that was an improvement for me. Since my major sin, I'm praying four salaats a day. I tried five, but I think I was praying too much too quickly. So, I dropped back from five to four. Once I'm able to do my salaats with ease I will add the final salaat which is my Fajr prayer that I find most difficult. Since then I have tried to lead a better life and hope to return to Allah Ta'ala in the best of conditions Inshallah.

My question is that the more salaats I am praying, the more angrier I am getting. I am very quick now to overact and my anger escalates very quickly and I know for a fact that this is not me... the less I followed of Islam I never ever used to get this angry... Infact I would always practice being calm in all situations. The regular anger that I feel now would only happen back then when I was pushed to the limit. I don't know what to do. Please explain to me what is happening and what I can do about it. 

Q: I came to Madinah to my sister who went through a big hardship. She is emotionally in need of me, she can look after herself now physically after recovering Alhumdillah. I did not come with the intention of performing umrah and wish to spend all available time to help my sister (I believe this is also ibaadat).

Will it be a sin on me if I do not perform umrah before leaving? I have never visited Makkah before. I am mentally extremely worried for my sister. I had always wished and prayed for visiting the Ka'aba but I don't want it to be a half-hearted visit.