Misusing funds donated for a specific purpose

Q: There is a Moulana running a school for special needs children. The school was renting a premises and were looking to purchase a property. 

The Moulana told me a property was identified which would be suitable for the school. I donated 1 million rand for the purchase of the house. 

Few days later I found out that the Moulana gave the money to Hawala people as an investment. I therefore went to him and asked for the donation back as he did not use the money for what I gave (and it was clear that it was for the property). 

The Moulana confirmed my finding but said the school will get returns and I cannot get my money back because it's like I'm licking my vomit to ask for it back in light of the Shariah. 

I did not make him the owner of the money. Rather he was supposed to purchase a property with it which he did not do. I would like to know if I can demand my money back in light of the Shariah and use it in for another Lillah project.

Washing a carpet purchased from a non-Muslim

Q: I recently purchased a room carpet from a non-Muslim which I intend using as a carpet to perform Salaah on. 

There are no apparent traces of najaasat on the carpet but there are a few stains which look like they may be from food or drink. 

The carpet is too thick and big to be soaked and squeezed. In order to ensure the carpet is paak, must it be washed once, then left to dry; then washed again and left to dry, and washed a third time and left to dry; in order for it to be paak? Or will one wash and soak be sufficient?

Marrying one's foster aunt

Q: There's a girl and we like each other. Finally we decided to get married. 

The question is, she's a sister of my aunty (chachi) (my father's brother wife) and my aunty (chachi) is my foster mother as she fed me breast milk two times only while I was 18 months old. 

So am I allowed to get married to her sister or not?

Zikr in a gathering

Q: I have a question regarding Halqah Thikr and loud congregational thikr. Recently I have heard reports from many Ulama that this action is not an ibadah but a bid'ah. They cite the incident of Abdullah ibn Masud (RadhiAllahu Anhu) and the dhikr majlis (which I'm sure Mufti Saheb is familiar with) as proof for their claim. Is this claim true? That the Halqah Thikr is a bid'ah.

Informing the customer about a defect in the product

Q: I sell 1m lengths of pipe at R80. I purchase these ready cut. I have a marking on my counter to measure 1m. Those who purchase don't specifically require 1m but purchase the metre as that's how it's sold. It is advertised as 1m. I noticed a pipe today that was marginally short. I therefore refunded R2 to the customer but did not inform him why. The pipe will still fulfill the function for which it was purchased. What is the ruling regarding this transaction?

Islamic view on women's education

Q: I would like to know all these restrictions that Taliban in Afghanistan are putting upon women prohibiting them to seek education and employment and curbing them to even speak in public, why are they doing this? 

Is there any basis in shariah law that prevents Muslim women to seek education and work even in a segregated setting where there is no free mixing with non mahram men?

Following an imaam who makes masah over cotton socks

Q: I have a situation where in my work place in Saudi Arabia (far from any musjid in construction site), the person that often is imaam of the small musallah we perform zohr and asr salah, makes masah over his normal cotton socks when he makes wudu. 

I read salah for few months behind him and only found out about this recently. 

He confirmed that some scholars in Saudi passed a fatwa that its permissible. It would seem that many of the general public here follow this fatwa. 

I do not want to argue and create fitnah based on the situation. I know the fatwa is that wudu is not valid if masah is made over normal cotton socks based on majority opinion. 

However, based on my situation/ the fact that I did not know or could not control the imaam, is my previous salah valid or should I repeat it? 

Also, going forward, what should I do: Can I read salah behind him, based on the fact that I cannot control the imaam - perhaps consider him a different madhhab/ different opinion with salah being valid Insha Allah or is salah invalid for sure in which case. Should I read salah behind him and repeat it or should I try to avoid and read on my own. This will result in me not being able to make salah in jamaat at work and possibly create division. (Also reading salah and repeating is a challenge especially asr based on limited time and people observing you).