Aqaaid

Not following a mazhab

Q: People in my area follow different imams and they claim that their act is correct and perfect than the other. They also say to me that you follow one imam only, reply to them that I will follow what is there is in Quran and sunnah (hadith-sahih + sanan+ other books-with references) irrespective of following one imam and making sects (as said in Quran" Vo ati ullaha Vo ati ur rasula") and they don't fluctuate w.r.t time as it is followed by prophet in times. Am I correct in this case of following Quran and hadith(also includes imams +sahaba+mufti+fuqaha) or following a single imam?

Being careful in one's speech

Q: A 15-year-old adult girl was misbehaving with her mother. The mother said to her (in Urdu), “Allah Ta'ala is watching you”. The daughter replied in a sarcastic tone (in Urdu), “Well! Allah Ta'ala is watching me! (Urdu: Acha! Allah mian mujhey daikh rahay hain!). Then the mother said (in Urdu): “Allah Ta'ala is listening”. The daughter replied again in a sarcastic tone (in Urdu): “Well! Allah Ta'ala is listening to me! (Urdu: Acha! Allah mian sun rahay hain!). The question is: is the ‘eman of this girl valid after saying these sentences? If the 'eman is invalid after saying these sentences, what is she supposed to do to revive her ‘eman? What about her salats, fardh Hajj, fardh fasting, etc.?

People congratulating one on one's birthday

Q: Before I had an idea about not celebrating birthdays, but on my first birthday in university, I gave a treat thinking that to feed someone is good, but I don't know if it's correct or wrong! Now, my second birthday is about to come and I don't know what to do if they greet me on my birthday, Alhamdulillah this year it's Sunday (I'll be on leave) but what reply must I give to the messages and phone calls from people who greet me (as I don't want to celebrate/give a treat in the name of a birthday), could you please tell me?

Predictions of astrologers

Q: I am 22 yrs old. I am in love with someone. I know this word doesn't have any meaning in our religion but I want to get married to him and my every salah includes this same dua. It is so happening these days that I came across 2 astrologers who predicted that I may not receive the life I wish. I completely do not want to believe in these things as I believe its all in the hands of Allah and its He who can do anything possible but these two incidents have disturbed be totally that I do not know what to do. 

Doing charitable work in the name of any person besides Allah Ta'ala

Q: Some members in our relatives give food in the name of others (instead of Allah). They tell that the reward of this charity goes to a particular person soul, also some say that we can give food, clothes etc... in the name of prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Is it really true? Some give food after a death of a man (within 3 days and 40 days), some read Quran for their souls to be rewarded, is all of these are permissible? Could you please explain me.

Doubting the Imaan of people

Q: In America there are a lot of people that are converting to Islam. Sometimes I get the doubt that some of them are just acting like they converted but they are actually munafiq like there were munafiqeen in the time of the Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Is it wrong to doubt the iman of a Muslim if he is a Muslim zaahiran?