Q: I heard from an Arab Shaykh that although there are some Ahaadith regarding the virtues of the night of shab-e-baraa'at (15th Sha'baan), none of the Ahaadith are authentic. Accordingly, we don't need to attach special reverence and significance to this day or night. Is this true? If not, please provide the authentic Ahaadith.
Q: I humbly ask you please help me to find sukoon in the following matter what bothers me all the time nowadays. It is about our Islamic calendar. The Muslims in South Africa have Eid day on another day through observing the moon and we Turkish people follow the Turkish calender from "Diyanet" Musjid (this is a very big Turkish organisation in Istanbul and one of their Musjid in my town). I asked an Aalim what should I do on Eid day and whom should I follow. He replied that I should follow the Musjid announcement. I explained to him that they follow a calendar that is written a year before and that they do not observe the moon before Eid day. They determine somehow when is Eid day a year before. Next year we start Ramadhaan on 20.07.2012, Eid day is on 19.08.2012, Eid Adha on 25.10.2012, Ashura 24.11.2012. This is the Musjid announcement. I want to clear the issue if it is okay to follow their announcement for Eid days, Ashura and so on. Here in Germany it is dark and most of the time cloudy and I can not go outside and observe moon. The place where it can be seen is little bit far from here.
Q: Please inform us regarding the Ulama taking each other to court, what is the solution?
Q: I suffer from a lot of waswas about kufr. So sometimes I utter the Shahada to calm my mind. Does this affect my Nikah? If I hadn't actually comitted kufr but uttered the Shahada out of fear I had comitted kufr, would I consequently have to renew my Nikah as well? Sorry if you find the question strange, but these kind of things are in my head.
Q: What is the ruling regarding birthdays? Our muslims greet one another on this day and feel insulted if one does not greet them. Another issue is regarding birthday cakes, gifts and parties. Please advise.
Q: A friend of mine who was born in Pakistan had migrated to Indonesia. He has no intention of going back to Pakistan. Now, he has a family in Indonesia. He is asking is it right that he changed his mazhab because he don't want to be the only one different in his own house and the community. His wife is also a local there and his children are sent to the local madresa.
Q: I'm a youth and there's just something that's been bugging me for a while: Sometimes when you go out then you hear people saying that nowadays a lot of the Ulama only want to know you if you are wealthy or if you pious i.e. the ordinary person is overlooked ( I know this is not true for every Moulana and there are many Ulama who are not like this). This has happened to quite a few people who I know where a well known Aalim will greet selective people. This kind of attitude puts a young person in a position where they feel a bit despondent. I was just wondering if you could advice me on this.
Q: If a believer commits an act of kufr which renders him a murtad thereafter he repents, will that repentance be accepted or not? E.g. Someone spoke bad of Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) so he became a murtad thereafter he repented, will that particular sin of kufr be forgiven or not?
Q: Do the Shias really say that our Qur'an is altered? If so, do they still remain as Muslims?
Q: If our taqdeer is written, then why are we punised for the sins we commit?