Miscellaneous

Q: By keeping a photo of a person who has passed away have any effect on the deceased, like any punishment on the deceased etc?

Q: Can one display frames of the Holy Ka'bah with people making Tawaaf?

Q: What constitutes as a prohibited picture?

1. If the eyes are only removed, does it still remain a prohibited picture?
2. Is a Taweez with a face, eyes included permitted?
3. What type of dolls are children allowed to play with?
4. Can one sell prohibited pictures or commodities with prohibited pictures on them?

Q: What is the verdict on taking photographs? Recently in many newspapers prominent masajid & organizations were photographed after distribution of aid, blankets etc. could the maslah be explained please?

Q: 

1. Husband picks up wife at work. As she gets in they both kiss one another. Is this acceptable?
2. In a working environment, in a meeting comprising of various sects what is the common etiquette that a Muslim women should display, defend her point of view loudly, be argumentative, etc.
3. What does Islam say about women approaching men, say in the lifts, coffee breaks.  No intention of any kind, just trying to be friendly and courteous. Seeing a fellow worker, and saying "Paul”, how are you, how’s the work etc. Sometimes he may just walk past, but you greet him, hey Pat, what’s this. You as a female make the first approach.
4. The trend of holding hands in public especially married couples.

Q: I had another question that has been bothering me recently. I did my medical school in my native country. I am an old graduate of medical school and I have started PhD in public health in the US from this summer. It was possible to enrol into a PhD program because the university offered me a full scholarship for PhD. The only thing I regret is that for admission and scholarship to the university, I lied on my resume and personal statement that I was the best student in my class during medical school but the transcripts and recommendation letters submitted were completely authentic and the university also verified them by requesting a sealed official copy. So the lying was only on the resume and personal statement. But maybe it was overlooked by the university and they gave me admission and a full scholarship. After I enrolled myself in the PhD program, the Program Director has introduced me twice in various meetings that I was the best student from my country. Now I feel that my troubles are because I lied to get the admission and particularly the scholarship and that has now resulted in Allah giving me multiple problems in my career. I cannot inform the university about this or the Program Director who gave me admission and scholarship as I do not want to be labelled a liar but I want to know how do I repent for this sin to avoid any troubles because of this. The other issue is that I have circulated my CV to my advisor as well and other post-doctoral fellows with this lie and I would have to continue doing this for the next five years because I now cannot change it if they ask for my CV again. Kindly advise in light of Islamic teachings because my only intention was to get admission and a scholarship and was not to harm anyone by this. 

Q: A friend of a friend owns an elderly cat who is quite ill- heart trouble and kidney disease etc. Vets have told her not to waste money on medication but rather have the cat put down to put it out of its misery.  She wants to know if this is jaaiz. Very interesting question.  Basically is euthanasia allowed for animals?

Q: A husband and wife are studying. Can they use contraceptives till the end of their studies to afford them more time to study?

Q: Is auto circumcision, i.e.: those who keep their foreskins permanently retracted recognized as a valid circumcision in Islam? After all, it meets all the requirements for circumcision in Islam, i.e.: by exposing the entire glans and ensuring that the private parts are clean before offering prayers. The only difference is that the foreskin is NOT REMOVED. Besides, by keeping the foreskin permanently retracted, the person already has the desire to be circumcised even though he has not undergone the operation.

Q: Are food and medicine capsules, that contain gelatin from animal sources, Halaal due to the changes that they go through.