Mawlana Ilyas Patel

August 8, 2026 3 mins

Is Using Earned In-Game Currency for Gambling Permissible?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question In football games like FIFA and eFootball, players get packs like ‘Player of the Day’ to draw players using in-game coins, which can be bought or earned through tasks. If I only use earned coins and not real money, is playing considered halal or gambling and haram? Answer In […]
August 7, 2026 2 mins

How Do I Navigate Foods that Contain Aromas Extracted from Alcohol?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question I live in France, and 98% of products contain aromas, which are usually extracted with alcohol (with tiny traces remaining that are undetectable when consumed) or with glycerin, which can be animal- or plant-based. Unspecified ingredients might also come from animals or plants. My question is: can I consume […]
August 2, 2026 3 mins

What Is the Ruling on Fulfilling Late Father’s Bequest?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question We face inheritance issues. My brother threatens to stop donations of verbal bequests (wasiyya) from my late father if we disagree. I’ve asked for the list of supported families, but he refuses, saying we should do our own sadaqa. I’m worried my father might face consequences since this was […]
August 1, 2026 3 mins

Is It Permissible to Imagine Fictional Married Characters?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question Is it wrong to imagine married fictional characters, including non-explicit romance or family scenes? As an autistic, I self-soothe during meltdowns by contemplating Austen or Disney characters, imagining them comforting each other and solving problems, not myself. I know romance is discouraged, but it calms my crying. I’m a […]
July 27, 2026 2 mins

Does Engaging in Oral Sex With the Same Sex Affect Virginity?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question This is hypothetical and was asked of a friend. If a Muslim man has engaged in oral sex with someone of the same sex and no penetration occurred, and he realized it was wrong, repented, and stopped the actions, is he no longer a virgin? Answer In the Name […]
July 24, 2026 2 mins

Can Attending a Shia Mourning Gathering Amount to Kufr?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question In my college years, I had a Shia friend whose grandfather died. She invited us to their home on the 40th day. She was upset we hadn’t visited her after his death. They held a majlis that I wasn’t aware of, and we attended to show our respect. I […]
July 24, 2026 3 mins

Do Internal Sensations and Noises Invalidate One’s Wudu?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question I suffer from waswas, which are derogatory thoughts that taunt me. As a teen without access to a madrasa or a teacher, I deal with flatulence issues. Sometimes I hear clicks and groans near my backside, but no gas is released. Moving sometimes decreases internal pressure, making me think […]
July 24, 2026 3 mins

What Is Required During Ghusl if Retracting the Foreskin Is Difficult?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question I’m a 19-year-old Hanafi convert. I learned I must retract my foreskin during ghusl to clean properly. During my last ghusl, I struggled to do so, finding it hard physically and psychologically. After multiple attempts, I retracted and cleaned the glans, but couldn’t reach deeper folds at the base […]
July 24, 2026 2 mins

What Should I Do About Doubtful Past Oaths?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question I made many promises in the past, but now I regret them and am unsure if they were made before or after puberty, whether I used Allah’s name, or if I fulfilled them. I don’t remember the exact wording or reasons for these promises. Answer In the Name of […]
July 20, 2026 3 mins

What Should I Do if I Received Prize Money by Mistake?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question In 2017, I entered a student essay and speech contest. Although only students from certain universities were eligible, I entered without hiding my college name. I was shortlisted and won 200000 INR, feeling lucky and unaware it might be wrong. Now, I worry because the rules don’t specify that […]
July 20, 2026 3 mins

Is It Permissible for Men to Read Women’s Online Forums?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question Many women discuss topics like periods, body, hijab, and navigating Islam on online forums, believing no men are present. However, men do access these forums, which lack verification. Some men take screenshots to mock women, for example, when discussing inheritance rules. The question arises: should men be entering women’s […]
July 17, 2026 3 mins

Is it Permissible to Pray Without Renewing Wudu Despite Doubts?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question I struggle with wudu during Salah, often fearing it will break. I have to repeat wudu over three times, which causes anxiety and passing wind, making prayer difficult. Ignoring whispers is hard. Is it permissible to pray without constantly renewing wudu, given this severity? Answer In the Name of […]
July 14, 2026 2 mins

Is My Qada’ Fast Valid If I Accidentally Broke It One Minute Early?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question I made a qada‘ fast yesterday. For breaking fast, I always take the maghrib time from the latest of my nearby mosques, to be cautious. This was at 9.27 yesterday (other mosques said around 9.20), but I misread it. I’m not sure if I broke my fast at 9.26 […]
July 10, 2026 2 mins

Is It Permissible to Attend Judo or BJJ Classes With a Woman in the Group?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question Is it permissible to attend judo or BJJ classes where there is a woman in the group, as long as I avoid sparring with her, touching her, or looking at her? Answer In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. Thank you for your concern in adhering […]
July 6, 2026 3 mins

Is My Income Halal Working for a Water Park in a Non-Muslim Country?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question I am a Muslim working in a non-Muslim country as a structural technologist for a water park company, preparing structural drawings for waterslides. I’m concerned because water parks often involve immodest dress, which seems almost certain in the environment my work helps create. Does my job or earnings become […]
July 5, 2026 4 mins

Should I Leave My Husband Because of His Porn Addiction?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question I was shocked to find my husband, married for two years, watching porn. He’s struggled with it for years, feeling guilty and praying to stop. I feel heartbroken. I’ve never rejected him, but I haven’t felt aroused since our wedding. I try to please him, but he loses interest […]
July 3, 2026 3 mins

Must One Cover the Nakedness (Awra) While Reciting the Shahada or Daily Remembra...

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question I often suffer from waswasa about kufr and shirk, and I recite the Shahada for reassurance. If alone, must I cover my awra while saying it? If so, are tight leggings enough, or should the clothing be loose enough to hide the body? Can I wear a skirt then? […]
July 3, 2026 4 mins

Is Marriage an Absolute Obligation for Every Muslim?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question I am a 32-year-old woman. I was forced into a nikah that ended in divorce after 1.5 years, which broke my trust. It took years to accept another proposal. I was engaged for 3 years, but my fiancé suddenly called off the wedding, also breaking my trust. Both men […]
July 1, 2026 3 mins

What Do I Do If I Bleed on the 15th Day of Purity?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question My period started early on the 14th day of tuhr, causing confusion and stress. The bleeding is heavy, dark red, and thick. I’m unsure if I should keep praying, which is difficult due to my struggle with waswas about purity and wudu. Washing, wudu, and praying take over an […]
July 1, 2026 3 mins

How Should I Perform Istinja if I Keep Doubting Whether Urine Has Spread?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question After performing istinja, what is the Hanafi way to dry the private area without worrying about urine spreading? I wash, dry, then re-wash near the urinary opening, but water dripping causes doubts about transferring impurity. This results in repeated washing, which wastes time and water. When impurities are visible, […]
June 30, 2026 4 mins

How Do We Correctly Manage an Adopted Child With Non-Mahram Boundaries?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question My wife and I, Sunni Hanafi, in our forties, are researching kafala. The child will soon reach the age of discernment. If we take an opposite-gender child through kafala, how should we manage non-mahram boundaries under Hanafi law? What are our duties and precautions as guardians, given that we’re […]
June 30, 2026 2 mins

Can One Wear a Small Mini-Camera Around the Neck?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question May a man wear a small functional mini-camera on a chain or lanyard around the neck, given that it resembles a necklace? Answer In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. Yes, it is permissible to wear a small mini-camera around the neck as a functional device […]
June 28, 2026 3 mins

Did a Divorce Occur When Words Were Said in a Fight Without Intention?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question Can I get divorced if my husband said ‘I divorce you’ twice during a fight without real intent? He says he only said it once, is unsure whether he used ‘I’ or ‘I’ll,’ and believes divorce happens only if said thrice. I told him he’s wrong, but I’m unsure […]
June 28, 2026 3 mins

Is Saying Ya Allah, I Will Not Do This Again, a Promise or An Oath?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel Question A few months ago, when repenting from a sin, I think I said to Allah ‘Ya Allah, I will not do this again’. However, I did repeat the sin after saying that. Is this a promise or an oath? Do I need to do anything to break it? Answer […]
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