Q: I recently read an article which claims that it is permissible for a Muslim to take out a medical aid contract. The article explained that if a stipulated monthly fee is paid to the medical aid company in return for which they assume responsibility for the client’s hospitalization or medical expenses, it will be permissible.

The reason for this medical aid contract being permissible in Shari’ah is that it is regarded as an ijaarah contract (i.e. hiring of services) between the member and the medical aid scheme. The ijaarah works in this manner that the member pays a fixed and mutually agreed amount monthly, and in exchange, the scheme takes responsibility for his treatment and wellbeing.

The article also stated that the medical aid scheme can be compared to hiring the services of a barber and a wet nurse. In many villages of India, it is a common and well-known practice for a family to give the barber a stipulated amount of grain or cash at the time of harvest. In exchange, the barber takes responsibility to cut the hair of the family whenever they wish during the year. In this case, although the number of haircuts that he will give to the family is unknown, this ambiguity is tolerated and overlooked as it does not lead to any dispute.

Q: Is it permissible to have a different cash price and credit price for the same item? For example, if a customer buys an item upfront, he will pay R1500, but if he buys it in instalments, it will cost him R2000. Is this allowed in Islam?

Q: I have read that a man can see the face and hands of a woman he is interested in marrying, if he is permitted by her family.

1. What are the limits of his gaze at her covered parts of body? Can a man gaze at the breasts, hips and buttocks region of her covered body?

2. Is it permissible to look for certain aspects of physical beauty of women one is choosing for nikah?

Q: Which parent has Islaam given the right of making the final decision in regards to the tarbiyat of the child? Which parent has the right to decide as to what the child may eat or not?

NB: Everything is within the sharia. There is no divorce.

Q: If someone sneezes in a dars whilst the speaker is talking and says Alhamdulillah then should one reply? If one didn’t then can one reply later?

Q: I'm a perfume trader in which we get orders for men and women perfumes. As women's are prohibited from using perfumes so can we distribute or sell ladies perfumes products.

Q: I am a Muslim and the man I want to marry became a Muslim 2 years ago. His family are Hindu and want us to live with them.

Is it permissible to live with people who have idols in their house and worship them even if their part of the house has been sectioned off so that there are two separate living areas?

Is it permissible for us to live there even though they drink wine?

Is it permissible for me to show my hair to my Hindu father and mother in law?

If the husband can afford to live separately, should this be the option he takes?

Q: I am a youtuber and making programming language tutorial videos. So is it halaal or haraam to use simple music (without voice) in video background?

Q: I work as a flight attendant for an airline. Sometimes when I come to Jeddah, once I come to the hotel, I shower and put on my ihram on and go and do umrah. Is this ok?

Q: I live in a shared apartment with 5 other men. Is it okay to not share my things with my roommates if they don't care for their own things in use.

For example, they don't wash their blankets and use mine as I try to keep my blanket clean and washed. Should I compromise my health and cleanliness or first take care of my basic needs and then share if I can. Please tell me as I don't want to be greedy in Allah's sight.