Q: My question to you is that my husband is from Pakistan and we had given his case to the home office for spouse visa. The home office rejected it. We then appealed and they did not accept the appeal but called us to the court! Is there anything we can read to get them to give my husband indefinite stay and and other dua that I can read so that when we apply for a council house they give us a good house in a good area near a mosque and shops etc. Does reading surah ikhlas 21 times help at all?

Q: I (sister) have been having a lot of difficulty within my marriage. My husband does not attend to my emotional and desirable needs, but always pressures me and forces me to do so for him. He is abusive verbally, physically, emotionally, and sexually. We are currently living with my parents, as he is new to the country that we are in, and we still have not gotten our own place. He does not work to support us or pitch in for my family. As we are staying with my parents, he does not show this behaviour outside of our room. But he does force me to do things I am uncomfortable with. Because of all of this, I feel a distance growing, and I am no longer attracted to him in any way. He is not religious by any means, which frightens me as I want the best for him as well as myself. He always seems to find something about me he doesn't like, and although this may sound like I am complaining, I really am seeking for guidance for the next steps I should take. He is a relative so whenever I attempt to talk about these issues with my parents they assume that I have done something wrong to attain hatred from him. They are against separation, but I do not think I can last within a relationship where my husband does not really love me, and where I will always feel that he only married me to get into a western country. I am deprived of having children which is also something that is causing problems, he always demands children, and despite getting medical treatment I know that this is something in the hands of Allah Ta'ala, and when He wants it to happen, it will. But this concept does not cross his mind, he does not think of my health and factors as to why I'm not having children but rather he wants to make his mother happy and risk my health. I do not have any emotional support with anything I do. Whenever I set out to accomplish my studies or work on my small business, he always puts me down and gives me negative comments. It is affecting my university and success in my business, but most of all it affects my Imaan. I would really appreciate a response about the next steps I should take, as my own parents will not take my side or listen to what I have to say.

Q: I am facing a personal dillema in my life at the moment. I am a 23 year old young woman and an alima. I am looking to get married and my parents have been searching for an ideal spouse for myself. I have been approached by my first cousin brother for marriage. When my mother informed of this proposal I let her know I was not inclined or attracted to him in any manner however my mum said he is a good boy alim etc what else do you want. I gave it a slight thought and proceeded to do istikhara. I felt nothing after this period and told my mother I didn't wish to go ahead. However once again she said to me to consider it as hes a good person etc. So I decided just one more time I will see if I feel any different and did istikhara a second time and felt nothing this time around. I didn't inform my mother of what I felt and nor did she ask thinking she might take the hint as to why I never mentioned it. However now I have found out they from my siblings they are planning to come and see me. Please please advise me what to do with this situation as I feel I don't know what else to do. My heart and head have a terrible feeling to this proposal and I feel scared.

Q: Please I want to know. I grew up learning Islam, and I have devoted myself to Deen. I am doing an online Islamic course (IOU) now, and I am learning Qur'an physically from one Sheik. But my problem here is, I find it difficult to continue. I always find this weakness in my heart and it just repeating itself anytime I want to study. I am so confused please. I really want to learn but something just makes me become uninterested. Please advice what I should do.

Q: I am sometimes so engrossed in learning about Islam that I reach to certain sites which are not authentic and as I am human I have many doubts. I love Allah and Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and I have faith but at times I have doubts and I feel scared as our prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) warned us not to ask too many questions as previous nation have done. What should I do in such a situation? I want to learn fiqh and Shariah. Can a woman learn it or if I love learning Islam, what should I learn and concentrate at?

Q:

1. Going through tough times. My wife delivered a stillborn baby boy two weeks ago, please make dua that Allah keeps us both patient. We fully accept and are happy with the decree of Allah, we just feel sad and empty. There was an issue regarding the burial and washing and clothing of our son. I understand that because our son was a stillborn and was born dead no janazah was required. But what about ghusl and shrouding with white cloth, were they obligatory or not? My father asked a maulana and he said to bury him as he is. In the state of grieving I completely overlooked and was not thinking about this issue.

2. If deceased children are in their graves, how is it that some hadith say that they are with Ibrahim peace be upon him in jannah. Are dead people not in their graves in bliss or torment? And only go jannah or jahanam after the day of judgement?

Q: I used to work in the banking industry for 22 years. I left last year to join a travel business and it didn’t work out so I left. I have been offered positions to get back into banking again and yesterday was offered a position to work for a wholesale company which is in clothing. I have made a decision to take the job at the wholesale company and not go back to banking even though the salary if I go back into banking is two times more. Is it necessary to read my istikarah to make a decision between banking and wholesale company?

Q: I took a vow saying Wallahi I will not drink a certain drink, then I was opening the can of drink for my friend and some drink fell on my hand and I forgetting my promise licked the drink off. Do I need to make kaffarah for breaking oath in Allah's name? If one breaks a promise taken in Allah's name I understand they must keep 3 fasts, do they have to be all consecutive?

Q: When I was 13\14 I broke one fast on purpose knowing that it breaks my fast. Some years later I realised that I would have to keep 60 kaffarah fast. So I made them up. I kept 60 in a row everyday intending that it was kaffarah. My problem is I was thinking about this and I am certain that in one or two of the days I had to do ghusl and I remember water going down my throat. Will I have to make all my kaffarah fasts again?

Q: What should I recite to see jinnaat?