Aqaaid

Q: A woman with a master’s degree in psychology conducts online Islamic lessons, programmes, and individual consultations, combining psychological concepts with Islamic teachings. However, she lacks systematic Islamic training and qualified teachers, having studied primarily through YouTube lectures and books. 

She makes statements such as, “I do not have a teacher. Allah Himself teaches me the wisdom I share in my lessons,” “Ilham comes into my heart like rain,” and “I do not have a murshid; wisdom comes into my heart, and then I weigh it against the Qur’an and Sunnah.” She frequently claims to receive divine inspiration and guidance through dreams and uses her students’ dreams to support her teachings. 

One of her programme assignments is muraqabah, in which students are instructed to describe ordinary daily activities using expressions such as, “Allah made me wash the dishes and look after my children.” 

We would like to ask the following questions: 

1. What is the Islamic ruling on her conduct, teaching methods, claims of ilham, use of dreams as evidence, and attribution of ordinary actions to Allah in this manner? Is it permissible for someone without systematic Islamic training or qualified teachers to conduct Islamic programmes and offer consultations as an Islamic psychologist, combining psychology with Islamic teachings? 

2. Is it permissible for women to consult qualified male scholars regarding her teachings and practices when no suitably qualified female scholars are available? The woman objects to this, arguing that sharing materials from her women-only Telegram channel violates the amanah (trust). Are women permitted to share relevant materials with scholars for the purpose of obtaining an accurate Islamic ruling?

Q: The influence of the Ba’Alawi tareeqah has spread substantially, more so in Cape Town, and now too in Gauteng. 

Are they on the right manhaj? Is it permissible to attend their gatherings and listen to their talks? 

A lot has been said about some of their scholars but Habib Umar himself seems to be very pious and adhering to Sunnah.

Q: I am a common Hanafi layperson and I follow the Hanafi madhhab. I would like to study the book Nur al-Idah by reading it myself. 

Am I permitted to read and study Nur al-Idah as a layperson and follow the rulings mentioned in it, even though I am not a scholar or student of advanced Islamic studies? 

If it is permissible, are there any precautions I should take while studying it, such as relying on a teacher or commentary to understand difficult or technical matters?

Q: In 2024 a marriage proposal was proposed for. My mother asked a Moulana for istikhaara. He said that don't marry your daughter here as the stars of the groom and girl doesn't align (he checked by names). The marriage will end up in divorce and they will be not good for each other. 

I didn't consider because I thought that only Allah knows the future and qadar. I performed istikhaara for few days and the process went out smooth. So I thought its Allah's sign and I married him. But it turned out to be a toxic marriage and ended up in divorce after a year only in 2026 (even I tried to reconcile to him and I didn't want the divorce but he made the issue on his own and created a fight and divorced me). Now I am confused, is it a test from Allah?

Q: Respected Madrassah Taleemuddeen Isipingo.

Q: Some things are decreed by Allah in which a person has no choice like death and the time of death, but in the case of marriage, a person has a choice in whom he/she chooses as a spouse. Since the person we choose to marry is one of the things which is not predestined/not predetermined by Allah (not to be confused with unknown to Allah for He certainly knows who we will choose with our free will), why are we limiting ourselves by not engaging and chatting to non-mahrams within limits? 

I would have definitely not met and subsequently not married my now spouse had we not engaged and chatted to each other. So since the person we marry is not influenced by Allah and is 100% all down to our choosing, why can't we date and interact with people with the intention of nikaah? This is certainly taking means and not being passive.