General

Q: There is a Hadith that states: “Allah has cursed wine, the one who drinks it, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who purchases it, the one who presses it, the one who manufactures it, the one who transports it and the one to whom it is delivered.” (Abu Dawood, #: 3676, Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar) What exactly does wine/alcohol mean? I am in the planted aquarium hobby. One of the practices is to make DIY CO2. This involves mixing yeast (baking or brewers yeast) with sugar, to produce CO2, that is transported to the tank in order to improve plant growth. The yeast/sugar mix eventually turns into alcohol, and thereafter is replaced with a new mixture. For a full article on the procedure, please refer to http://agustiono-aquarium.blogspot.co.za/2008/09/treatise-on-diy-co2-sy… Does such mixtures fall into the above Hadith?

Q:

1. In fazaail-e-amaal we read that minor sins are easily pardoned. What are the differences between major and minor sins?

2. Is there a list of major/minor sins so we can guard ourselves appropriately?

Q: Does burning of lobaan ward off evil? What are the benefits of burning lobaan?

Q:

1. A person had thrown away a large number office files. There was nothing wrong with many of these files. I retrieved one file from his dirt bin and have been using it ever since. I remember hearing a ruling that once a person disposes an item, it is permissible for others to take it without the permission of the former owner. Is this correct?

2. Secular students in some places go through the outdoor rubbish bins at the places where their exams are printed before the dirt is collected by the garbage services. They hope to find copies of their upcoming exams that have been thrown away due to printing errors and similar reasons. They do not trespass onto property. Is this permissible?

Q: What is the minimum number of people required to fulfil a Waajib/ Sunnat kifaayah act?

Q: Nowadays many new Samsung phones have a message tone of a person whistling in a tune

1) Is this considered the same as music and thus the person will be sinful?

2) What is mentioned in the hadith regarding whistling?

Q: When any good thing which is made by non muslim is seen, do we have to say masha allah or what?

Q: Is it permissible for a man to hug his sister and to kiss her on the forehead?

Q: Why is the index finger called 'shahadat ki ungli'?