Miscellaneous

Q: The ijma of scholars have permitted painting of tress, flowers etc which are considered as living and have also permitted painting of nature like mountains, rivers, sun, moon etc. Why do these things, not fall into the category of challenging Allah or painting like of his creation?

Is there any hadith to support the view that painting living things like trees, flowers, mountains, rivers etc permitted in Islam?
The reason why I am asking this is because I had a conversation with a non-muslim friend and provided an argument that painting living is like challenging the God, but I wasn’t able to answer, even trees, mountains, rivers, sun, moon are creation of God, then why the same logic isn’t applicable here.

Q: For the purpose of curing the sickness near the private parts, can we massage recited olive oil or zam zam water on the private parts as a medicine. I have heard that in Mecca people bath with zam zam water, that even reaches the private parts. 

Q: We would like to query whether it is permissable to use lifestyle images for our advertising indoor and outdoor.

Q: Is video calls permissible? That is, together with speaking to the person, you can see his face? Is skype permissible? Is facebook permissible?

Q: By keeping a photo of a person who has passed away have any effect on the deceased, like any punishment on the deceased etc?

Q: Can one display frames of the Holy Ka'bah with people making Tawaaf?

Q: What constitutes as a prohibited picture?

1. If the eyes are only removed, does it still remain a prohibited picture?
2. Is a Taweez with a face, eyes included permitted?
3. What type of dolls are children allowed to play with?
4. Can one sell prohibited pictures or commodities with prohibited pictures on them?

Q: What is the verdict on taking photographs? Recently in many newspapers prominent masajid & organizations were photographed after distribution of aid, blankets etc. could the maslah be explained please?

Q: 

1. Husband picks up wife at work. As she gets in they both kiss one another. Is this acceptable?
2. In a working environment, in a meeting comprising of various sects what is the common etiquette that a Muslim women should display, defend her point of view loudly, be argumentative, etc.
3. What does Islam say about women approaching men, say in the lifts, coffee breaks.  No intention of any kind, just trying to be friendly and courteous. Seeing a fellow worker, and saying "Paul”, how are you, how’s the work etc. Sometimes he may just walk past, but you greet him, hey Pat, what’s this. You as a female make the first approach.
4. The trend of holding hands in public especially married couples.

Q: I had another question that has been bothering me recently. I did my medical school in my native country. I am an old graduate of medical school and I have started PhD in public health in the US from this summer. It was possible to enrol into a PhD program because the university offered me a full scholarship for PhD. The only thing I regret is that for admission and scholarship to the university, I lied on my resume and personal statement that I was the best student in my class during medical school but the transcripts and recommendation letters submitted were completely authentic and the university also verified them by requesting a sealed official copy. So the lying was only on the resume and personal statement. But maybe it was overlooked by the university and they gave me admission and a full scholarship. After I enrolled myself in the PhD program, the Program Director has introduced me twice in various meetings that I was the best student from my country. Now I feel that my troubles are because I lied to get the admission and particularly the scholarship and that has now resulted in Allah giving me multiple problems in my career. I cannot inform the university about this or the Program Director who gave me admission and scholarship as I do not want to be labelled a liar but I want to know how do I repent for this sin to avoid any troubles because of this. The other issue is that I have circulated my CV to my advisor as well and other post-doctoral fellows with this lie and I would have to continue doing this for the next five years because I now cannot change it if they ask for my CV again. Kindly advise in light of Islamic teachings because my only intention was to get admission and a scholarship and was not to harm anyone by this.