Q: I have read that umm sulaym and umm haram (Radiyallahu Anhuma) were mahram relatives of Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) which was why Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) would spend the afternoon by them. I would like to know how were they related?
Q: I would like to know the following: A sister over 45 years of age performed hajj without a mahram. Is her Hajj valid?
Q: I am keeping a fist length beard Insha Allah as it is wajib. However I want to ask a question just out of curiosity regarding trimming the beard slightly shorter than a fist. Most Deobandi Ulama say it is Makrooh e Tahrimi, and if done continously it is a major sin. However in Shah Hakeem Akhtar Sahib's book it was written that to cut even a few millimetres of the beard shorter than a fist is GUNAH KABEERA (major sin)? So do you agree with Hakeem Akhtar sahib's statement?
Q: In Europe leather men shoes have leather sole. Mostly this leather is from pork-leather since the sole has to be soft, and being soft is one of characteristic of pork-leather. Now it is that most Muslim buy such shoes and wear them. My question is since these shoes are commonly worn and we do not know exactly who wears them only that is very common, how should our behavior be in the rows of Salaah since people do stand feet to feet. Their socks do they become impure by wearing the shoes as inside the shoe there will some humidity after all, and people do touch each other with their feet i.e with the socks. Since this is a matter of Umoom al Balwaa what is the view of the Ulamaa on this issiue?
Q: We are currently experiencing a fuel shortage in the country. This has resulted in long queues at the petrol stations. I do not have a petrol station, but I am able to acquire large quantities of fuel that I sell to the public. However, because I am saving the people from waiting in the long queues at the stations, I charge a higher price for the fuel compared to the normal price. Is this allowed or is it exploitation?
Q: I would like to know if auctions are permissible in Islam. I run an online business and would like to add this function to my website. I will put an item with a reserve price and then people can bid to buy it.
Q: I want to enquire regarding the following auctions:
1. Liquidation sale. A company has folded up and the company that is owed gives all the contents which they have taken to auctioneers to recover their debts.
2. Government sale. The government auctions off items belonging to people. People have imported containers and wrongfully declared or storage bills get too high and they abandon the shipments.
3. Houses get auctioned off as the people cannot pay the bond.
Is it permissible to buy from these types of auctions?
Q: Mufti Saheb what is the ruling with regards to investing, buying shares eg telkom, mtn etc?
Is it the same as investing in the stock market? Then due to these companies been involved in interest it was not advisable to buy shares previously. So in that case what has changed? Also is it allowed to invest and get good returns, when you physically have not worked for the final amount? I ask this because if this wealth is used for Haj, will that Haj be accepted?
Q: One of our musullees is faced with the following situation. Please advise him on weather the following is Sharia’h compliant.
"I am employed as a store manager at one of South Africa's leading supermarket chain stores and the company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The company sells items from groceries, clothing, and all sorts of meat products and also sells wine and liquor. When I first started to work there in the year 2000, I was allocated (not free) shares in the company. I was then given a period of ten years in which to purchases these shares at below market value. The values of each share in 2000 was R32 and we as employees were allowed to purchase same at R30. However, the value of these shares currently (2010) is R50 per share; the company has allowed me to purchase the allotted shares at the year 2000 price of R30. The company has also allowed me to sell my share at R50 and pay for the shares at R30 and the difference of R20 be given to me in cash or reinvested and thereafter dividend would be paid out to me at the end of each financial year.
Talking the above situation in to account:
Your advice will highly be appreciated. Kindly treat this email as urgent. Looking forward to your reply, as soon as possible.
Q: I work at a mechanic shop the owner is muslim now sometimes while working on a car things break do I have to ask forgiveness for accidentally or intentionally breaking something like when I want to open a bolt a clip was in the way so i break it to move the bolt but others in the shop can open it without breaking it as they are more experienced then me so what do I have to do if I break something? When I break something the owner says its between me and the customer sometimes he wont tell them that something broke but he will lessen the price so what do I have to do if I break something?