Q:

1. What's the difference between a "Shaykh" and a "Mufti", and what can a Mufti do that a Sheikh can't do, and vice versa?

2. Is Shaykh Hasan Ali a good, reputable and trustworthy scholar?

Q: I am employed by a Sri Lankan company whose owner is Buddhist by religion and faith, but having had a long association with him he has got curious about Islam and ask questions about the Islam from time to time which in my personal capacity I try to answer him and satisfy him as per my understanding and limited knowledge of Islam as an ordinary Muslim. But this time he came up with few question where wanted to have some concrete evidences and references for the questions below as he is planning to write a book on Sri Lanka's way forward and how and what they should learn from others and leave in peace and harmony while respecting all humans. The questions are as follow:

1. Islam's teaching says to respect other religions and its leaders and worship other religious leaders as same as Prophet Mohamad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam), especially Lord Buddha and Jesus. Where was it written?

2. Someday Jesus will appear. Quran says that he will come to world from one mosque, Christians themselves will reject, etc. where is this written and what is the sequence of it?

3. What Does Islam say about the fate of Jerusalem?

4. Any resemblance of Muslim teachings and Buddhist teachings? What does Islam say or believe about the powers of Buddha, how he attained it as per your understanding or anywhere it is written. What does Islam says about the Buddhist philosophy and such teachings?

5. How to establish harmony among all?

I tried to answer them in general but being an ordinary Muslim I couldn’t provide evidences or references to satisfy him. Therefore I request you to kindly assist me and share your knowledge and wisdom for someone who might accept Islam just by sharing him knowledge.

Q: Please give some advice for the Hujaaj?

Q: I am a forty year old women. Married for 21 years. My husband is involved with a women. I had caught him several times doing heinous activities. I have always tried to conceal and believe his fake clearances. I offer five times salah. I learn and teach Quran. I had always been far from any heinous acts. Now that he has lost his interest in me. I have read in Qur'an somewhere that good man for good women and sinful man for sinful women. Does this mean that I am also sinful? Or do some other sin so that I am paired with this man? I have four daughters. My husband shouts aloud in the house so that no one dares to discuss his evil activities. I don't know what shall I do. Every next day of my life seems more miserable. Please help me out and pray for me. If there is any wazifa in this regard, please let me know.

Q: If a person has sexual thoughts in his dream but upon waking up cannot see any form of impurity nor feel any kind of wetness nor does he with certainty remember ejaculating whilst asleep, would this mean that the person does not need to do a ghusl and that he is still in a 'paak' state?

Q: I am from India. Since I am feeling helpless in life these days I consulted a mufti. He says I am suffering through black magic. Should I believe him? I probably mean do muftis lie?

Q: Is Sharia regarding image making binding on all, or only on the Muslim community? Is there a difference between Sunni schools of law and Shiʿa schools of law on images?

Q: Can an ustaad teach hifz in a masjid when he dose not receive payment directly from the students but the students pay madressa fee's to the community who run the masjid and then the community pays the ustaad?

Q: I am in great dilemma and I want to seek a proper advice in the light of Islam and hadeeths from you. My question is I am in love with a women whom I consider good in her religion character and conduct who actually is my fathers sisters daughters daughter however the problem is my father is not in good terms with the rest of the family and the relationships between his siblings have worsened over the years and because of relationships going bad he is reluctant in getting me married to her we have been in a relationship and agreed to not to come in any forms of contact until we legalise this relationship the Islamic way and in accordance to the sunnah. I want to convince my parents for this relationship as I consider and rely upon Allah that this relationship holds the capability of being advantageous to Islam. I request you to kindly advise me on this as to how to convince my parents and correct me if my approach is wrong.

Q: My wife wants to stay at her sister's residence for a couple of nights alone. However, the husband of her sister, although her first cousin, is not a mahram and therefore it is not permissible for my wife to stay there because he will be around. There is no other mahram in that house. All three of them know very well that it is not permissible but my wife is rebellious. Her sister and her sister's cousin husband pray regularly and fast regularly but when it comes to such matters, they throw islamic injunctions away and never guide my wife but assist her in her rebellious ways. Now, even in Western countries, it would be unusual for a woman to be staying without her husband a night at her sister's with the sister's husband around. Nothing reasonable has helped guide my wife and her blood relations away from creating problems in many matters, even prayers for their guidance so far. So, what should I do in this situation? Should I also pray against her blood relations because their injustice and interference is growing and is causing deep problems? (Is it possible for you to reply to me soon because my wife plans to go there tomorrow?) Thank you.