Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question Is there a concession for someone whose health worsens by praying Fajr on time due to chronic exhaustion? Answer I pray you are well. If someone is genuinely struggling due to chronic exhaustion, and praying Fajr on time is having a serious negative effect on their health or their ability […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question Are non-biological stepfathers considered mahram to a convert if they raise a child? Answer I pray you are well. When a Stepfather Becomes a Mahram There are certain considerations in this matter. If someone is married to your mother and has raised you, then he would be considered a mahram […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question How should one balance prayer with studying for important exams when stress and guilt affect focus? Answer I pray you are well. Understanding the Source of Stress and Guilt Stress during exams is understandable. However, if guilt is also affecting you, it may be due to neglecting prayer. In such […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question What are the recommended introductory books on Usul al-Fiqh? Answer I pray you are well. First and foremost, you need a teacher. I assume you will be studying Usul al-Fiqh with a teacher, as the field is complex and requires a broad understanding of the Shari‘a. Without that broad […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question Is opening a business with legally required insurance permissible when no halal alternative exists? Answer I pray you are well. Yes, it is permissible. The main thing you are doing is opening a business. You are not doing this in order to take out insurance as the primary objective. […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question How should a woman respond Islamically to false accusations or inappropriate conduct? Answer I pray you are well. False accusations are generally accusations of being loose, or of infidelity, and similar matters. The Seriousness of False Accusations in the Shari‘a In the Sharia, there is recourse in a Muslim […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question Is it necessary to believe that the six days mentioned in the Quran regarding the creation of the heavens and the earth were equal in length, or that they were standard twenty-four-hour days? Answer I pray you are well. No, it is not necessary to believe that. What we know […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question Are family members blameworthy if they are unable to remain constantly with a dying parent due to physical or emotional exhaustion? Answer I pray you are well. No, they are not blameworthy. This situation often involves emotional tension or conflict, but the reality is that exhaustion is real. If a […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question What is the ruling on accepting a scholarship when one has cheated in an exam, but believes that even without that improper assistance, one would still have passed and qualified for the scholarship? Is it necessary to inform the institution? Answer I pray you are well. You must inform them. […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question Is repentance valid after anonymous criticism that caused harm, and must one reveal their identity? Answer I pray you are well. Yes, repentance is valid. Allah Most High will accept the repentance of anyone. However, you should look carefully at the situation and assess it properly. If the criticism was […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question How is an estate distributed when a man dies, leaving a wife, siblings, and nephews? And is a lifetime transfer valid if he had mental illnesses? Answer I pray you are well. In this situation, not all the information required has been provided. The Wife’s Share if There Are No […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question Is repaying an item’s monetary value sufficient when the original item cannot be returned? Answer I pray you are well. Yes, it is sufficient in such a case. Returning Wrongfully Taken Property The primary concern in this matter is that if a person has taken someone else’s property wrongfully, or […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question What are the Islamic limits on parental discipline, and when does physical harm become impermissible? Answer I pray you are well. The Islamic limits on parental discipline are that it must be beneficial. If there is harm in the discipline, then it becomes impermissible. Harmful Discipline Is Not Permissible Constant […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question May a book containing misleading beliefs be destroyed if ownership is unclear, and keeping it risks harm? Answer I pray you are well. If the ownership of the book is unclear, then destroying it would generally be problematic. In most places, one is not permitted to damage or destroy the […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question How much authority do parents have over a son’s choice of spouse, especially across different cultures? Answer I pray you are well. In short, parents have no authority to dictate a son’s choice of spouse. They may advise and counsel, but the decision ultimately rests with him. Suitability in Marriage […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question Is it sinful to inform a wife of possible asset transfers before divorce when the information is uncertain, or to transfer assets so they are not allotted to her by the court? Answer I pray you are well. This question can be summarized as follows. A couple is going through […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question Is the income earned from working at a polling station in a Western election halal? Answer I pray you are well. Yes, the income earned from working at a polling station in a Western election is halal. There is no inherent prohibition in such work. Clarifying a Common Misunderstanding Some […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question Is it permissible for a father to be away from his children for long periods without a valid reason? Answer I pray you are well. No, it is not permissible for a father to be absent from his children for extended periods without a valid and genuine reason. Two Situations […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question Is it permissible to make online purchases before the second adhan of Jumu‘a? Answer I pray you are well. If a person is obligated to pray Salat al-Jumu‘a, then it is not permissible for them to engage in buying and selling, whether online or in person, from the time the […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question Is it permissible to work in consulting or IT if some clients are involved in unlawful activities? Answer I pray you are well. Yes, it is permissible to work in consulting, IT, or similar fields as long as you are not actively or directly assisting in unlawful activity. The Governing […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question If I did not record my placement hours accurately, do I need to inform the university? Would my future income be affected Islamically? Answer I pray you are well. Questions of this nature, relating to inaccuracies, cheating, or misrepresentation, do arise periodically, and the ruling depends on the specific circumstances […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question Why is a martyr (shahid) not given ghusl in Islam? Answer I pray you are well. The ruling regarding washing (ghusl) a martyr (shahid) contains important nuance and scholarly detail. At its heart, the matter revolves around how Islamic law honors those who give their lives in the path of […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question Is a secret marriage without parental knowledge valid, and must it be disclosed later? Answer I pray you are well. Suitability and the Role of the Wali In the Hanafi school, there is a principle known as kafa’a, meaning suitability. This refers to whether the groom is a suitable match […]

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat Question Can strong feelings about someone’s death be from Allah as an insight? Answer I pray you are well. Yes, it is possible. Sometimes Allah Most High grants certain people in the Umma a form of inspiration. There are examples of this in the Quran. Allah inspired the mother of Musa […]