Q: 15 years ago I married my first wife, who was my first cousin. In my Nikah agreement there was talaq-e-tafweez that I was not told about. I accepted and signed in front of two Muslim witnesses. Later when I read my Nikah certificate and saw that my wife was given the right to divorce me and I was not told about it during the time of Nikah, I was not happy. If I had known, I would not have agreed for her to have the right to divorce me. So I explained to her, and she signed another document in front of two Muslim witnesses (I believe one witness was same as during the Nikah). The document stated that she gives up her right to divorce me, and she and the two witnesses signed also.

Fives years later, we had some disagreements and she asked for divorce and I love her very much so I refused to divorce her. Therefore, she went to the court and got divorced from the court and mailed me the divorce papers. She said that she asked an imam and he said it was okay for her to divorce me. Now both her, and I are married to different people. I still miss her and wonder if our marriage is still valid. I never divorced her with my words, actions, or in writing. Not even as a joke.

My question is, are we still married since I never divorced her because she gave up her right to divorce me? And is her Nikah with the other guy valid or no? Since I was not told about talaq-e-tafweez during my Nikah, did she have the right to divorce me before she gave it up? If she had the right to divorce me, did she give up that right by signing a new document in front of two Muslim witnesses that said she’s giving up her right to divorce me?

Q:

1. I have 3 brothers and 1 sister. Our estate was worked out on a percentage basis. The eldest brother getting the highest percentage and so on, and my sister was only given 1 percent. Is this distribution correct?

2. If not, then can mufti saheb please mention how the estate be distributed and how many shares will each heir receive. There are 4 brothers and 1 sister in total.

My father did not have any surviving parent neither a spouse.

3. Also, if the distribution that was done on percentage basis is not correct then one heir had taken the money of the other heir. So what should be done to rectify this?

Q: I care for my disabled son at home. The council are sending two male care workers when I have requested one male and one female. I feel uncomfortable and I believe it is against my religion to be alone with two males who are ghair mahram. Please can you send me an explanation that I can forward to explain my religious and cultural requirements.

Q: I am currently trying to start a movement to utilize technology and economics to serve Islam and the creation. Could you please help me in this by providing the fundamental view of Islam on Science and Technology, based on which I can build my project? Below I have written what Allah has made me understand till now:

Science is an effort to form laws which can explain the way the world around us operates and why it does so without considering the actions of Allah. Science is a search for asbaab which is false, useless, has failed miserably and also it leads us away from the yaqeen in Allah. It is very similar to the philosophy of the past. Just like Imam Ghazali destroyed philosophy we need to destroy science.

Technology (in today’s world) is the creation of new ways and means to increase the luxury and enjoyment of the dunya. The blind rush after technology is very dangerous and has lead to this utter destruction all over earth. It fools us by making us think that it will make life easier for us, but in reality, life is getting tighter and tighter. It is similar to building large houses, pursuit after the dunya etc which were discouraged by the Sahaabah.

The actual solution for all the problems created by technology is to leave all technology and go back to the way people lived during the time of the Prophet and 1300 years after him. But, most of the people will not accept this solution. Hence, the only possible way for us is to try to fight against these evils of technology by creating other good technologies, (like the way we are asked to in Quran 8:60, Hadith on virtues of growing horse, making arrows etc, Sahaba using their new ideas and technologies for Jihad, digging of trench in Ahzab war, building of ships by Muawiyah (rad), the strategies of Khalid bin walid (rad)). 

Although we may attempt to solve the problems of the world by creating new technology, we should always keep in mind that it is not going to provide ultimate solution to the problems. Even the ‘good’ technology may have some bad effects and can be used in bad ways by selfish individuals. Thus, in the long run creation of more technology will not solve the issues.

The real solution lies in Zuhd. Most of the issues occur due to the overuse of resources and the blind rush after the Dunya. If we control our desires and live with minimal consumption all these problems will be solved. We need to understand this properly and keep it in our mind so that if we reach such a stage where we have authority over the whole earth we should implement laws force people to adopt zuhd, to stop the development of technology and use that time instead in the Ibaada of Allah. (like the rule of Umar (rad)).

Could you please verify whether what I have understood is right or not?

Please help me in this as the youth are getting very interested in my project. If you Islamic Scholars do not help us it is highly possible that we will go astray and work for wrong aims. 

Q: My son's name is Pehlaaj Adnan. I want to know the meaning of Pehlaaj. Can this name be used for a Muslim baby boy?

Q: If the governtment doesn't allow tution and someone makes money out of tution, then is the money haram or not?

Q: Is it sinful to shorten a prayer if you’re either afraid if you don’t, then someone might come in the room and mistakenly walk in front of you or because you don’t want them to hear you (I deal with anxiety)?

A few weeks ago, I shortened a prayer once by leaving some sunnahs due to the first scenario. Do I have to repeat it?

Q: I want to name my child Imaadul Haqq. Does this name contain shirk, please clarify.

Q: My mum gifted me her Holy Quraan but its missing a back cover. Can I cut a hard cover from another book and use it for support in the back?

Q: I am a chef working in a hotel restaurant. Is it permissible to work with haraam items, such as alcohol and pig? I don’t have to touch it with my hands or taste it. I can use gloves when I touch it and work with it.