Q: In a Shafie masjid, when the imam makes salams at the end of the prayer, the congregation waits until he has completed both salams, then they make their own salams. Sometimes the salams of the imam are lengthy, making the congregation wait for a long period (longer than 3 subhanallahs). If a Hanafi follower also delays his salam in this manner (waiting for the imam to complete), will his salat become invalid due to delaying a wajib (i.e. intentionally delaying the first salam)?

Q: I am a 32 year old married muslim male with 2 kids. I have been unemployed for 3 years and struggling to earn an income to match my living expenses (water/lights share, food, school fees etc). Also, I am in debt in the region of about R500 000 due to previous business debts. My Family and I are currently living with my parents and I have no possessions to my name (property,stock, car etc). My wife buys and sells goods as well to supplement whatever little income I am currently bringing in. Is it permissible for me to collect Zakaah to cover my living expenses and to repay my debts to Creditors?

Q: I have severe depression from about 10 years. I am also feeling mental frustration from many years. The frustration has increased so much from past years that every day I think of suiciding. I am a student but my mind is so frustrated that I am unable to study. I feel become frustrated for the nothing. I am not able to interact with people. Also my heart remains very unstable for the whole day. I have visited many doctors but didn't improve. Please give me some solution.

Q: Someone touched his mother in-law's body with thoughts and feelings of lust. Will hurmat-e-musaaharah be established?

Q: My dad married a woman I was involved with. We had a 1 night not even a night (20 minutes in the back of my car). He had no way of knowing. She didn't know he's my dad either. I work in another country and only met her after the weddding. I'm not learnered islamically but know that this marriage is not valid. How do I tell him that? He is my father. She has changed her life a long time ago and is in hijaab and niqaab. What must I do please advise with an open mind.

Q: I have to travel with two female friends about 3 hours from Melbourne. My husband has given me permission to go and I will not be spending the night away from him. This trip is for business and it is necessary for me to attend. Can I go to this meeting or should I not go?

Q: My mom said too many bad things to me in anger. She said I am not fit for marriage. I will never be able to get married and accused me of bad things. She also threatened to kill me and was banging my bedroom door to hit me. She even embarrassed me by shouting out bad things about me. As a solution, I left home and started living somewhere else. Please advise if I did the right thing based on Shar'iah? I felt that my life was in danger so I left home and I also did not want to be hurt by my mom if she hit me.

Q: I run a market research company. One of my clients is doing a research project with regards to alcohol. They requested that I help collect the data for them. This will entail getting vodka drinkers to complete an online interview. Is this permissible?

Q: I would like to change my name. My date of birth is the [1st May 2000] and I would like to know suitable names for me?

Q: Is it permissible to evade paying money to the tax authorities by not disclosing all transactions, etc.?