Misgivings about discharge on the floor

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Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
May Allah, Most High, reward you for your desire to increase in knowledge.
The white or clear discharge does not necessitate ghusl. If your menstrual cycle is generally around 5 days, then your initial ghusl is sufficient.
The floor is considered pure as long as you don’t see any impurity. There is no need to worry about your towel dropping on the floor.
(Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah)
These are all misgivings. Ignore them and pay them no attention. The remembrance of Allah, Most High, helps in repelling misgivings. Consider reading a daily litany of Prophetic Prayers such as the Wird al Latif.
And Allah alone knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Can I consume food purchased with interest funds?

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Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
May Allah, Most High, reward you for your desire to increase in knowledge.
It is permissible to consume food purchased by someone whose majority of their wealth is made up of permissible funds, even if some of it is interest-bearing wealth.
If the majority of their wealth is interest-based, then it is not permissible to eat this food.
(Ibn Abidin; al-Radd al-Muhtar)
Keep in mind the words of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace), “A body nourished with haram will not enter Paradise.”
(Tirmidhi, al-Sunan)
Also, see:
And Allah alone knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

What are my children’s rights upon me?

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Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
May Allah, Most High, cure you of all illnesses and grant you strength.
Allah, Most High, says:
“Your Lord has commanded that you should worship none but Him and that you be kind to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say no word that shows impatience with them, and do not be harsh with them, but speak to them respectfully” (Quran, 17:23)
We understand from this verse that it is obligatory upon children to be kind to their parents. Kindness means that they should show them mercy, patience and help them.
However, familial disputes are generally not resolved through the discussion of rights & responsibilities. They are solved through communication, respect, and acknowledgment of previous mistakes.
You mentioned that your children are upset with you due to how their mother was treated upon your taking of a second wife. You should open a dialogue with your children and explain the entire situation with them. Let them know what really happened and acknowledge any shortcomings you may have had.

If you try to use Islam as a means for them to give you financial support while they still resent you, you will not only increase their resentment for you but also their resentment of Islam.

Once you develop a good relationship with them, you can let them know that you are ill and in need of financial support.
If you are still married to your first wife, be sure to open the same dialogue with her. Don’t forget that Allah, Most High has commanded that a husband be just.
May Allah, Most High facilitate a beautiful bond of love and mercy between you and your family.
And Allah alone knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal

How to get out of consuming haram

/in , /by
Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
May Allah, Most High, reward you for your desire to increase in knowledge.
The first step in this process is to show gratitude to Allah, Most High, for placing guidance in your heart. This is indeed an amazing blessing.
Then, You must repent to Allah, Most High, from earning and consuming prohibited wealth. Be certain to never fall into it again.
Remember that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The one who repents from sin is like the one who never sinned.” [Ibn Maja]
As for your consumption of Haram, seeking forgiveness from Allah, Most High will remove those effects along with other acts of worship. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Follow up a bad deed with a good deed for it will wipe the bad deed away.”
(Tirmidhi, al-Sunan)
As for your earning of Haram wealth;
If it was taken wrongfully from someone, then it must be returned.

If it was earned wrongfully, such as interest, its equivalent amount should be given in charity (sadaqa).

If the amount is large, then create a schedule that allows you to fulfill the amount slowly.

(Ibn Abidin, al-Hashiya)
And Allah alone knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Can I recite the Shahada before going to bed?

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Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
May Allah, Most High, reward you for your desire to increase in knowledge.

This practice is valid. When a Muslim recites the testimony of faith (shahada), it is an act of worship. It is not just recited due to fear of polytheism. A ruling of polytheism is only applied upon an action done with the knowledge of it being a polytheistic action.

Reciting the testimony of faith (shahada) is a righteous form of remembrance. The scholars mention that its repetition has many virtues. Among them are;

A pure admittance and emphasis of the Shahada.
A renewal of belief and certainty
A removal of ignorance
(Ibn Allan, Futuhaat ar-Rabbaniya)
The Shahada may be recited at any time.
And Allah alone knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Should I marry a police officer?

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Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
May Allah, Most High, reward you for your desire to increase in knowledge.
Getting married is a major step in life. All major and even minor steps in life should be taken with two procedures; seeking council from creation and seeking guidance from Allah, Most High. These two procedures are known as Istishara and Istikhara.
In your particular case, consult yourself. Is the fact that your potential husband is a police officer something you are okay with? If the answer is yes, then continue to ask about this individual and seek guidance from Allah, Most High, through the prayer of seeking guidance.
If the answer is no, then let the potential spouse know about your sentiment. One should never go into a relationship with a red light. A red light is something that you are absolutely not comfortable with.
Many people go into marriage assuming that their partner will eventually change. This is an assumption that could prove detrimental later down the road.
Please see these answers for more details on choosing a spouse:
And Allah alone knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

How can I seek a divorce?

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Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
May Allah, Most High, draw you close to him.
Marriage
Marriage is a journey full of ups and downs. When a spouse or couple finds themselves not satisfied in marriage, they should immediately seek help to solve the marital problem.
Seeking help in a difficult relationship is either through confronting one’s spouse, seeking arbitration through family, or going to marital therapy.
No matter how difficult the marital problem is, it does not allow one spouse to have an extramarital affair. Adultery is an egregious transgression against Allah, Most High, and one’s spouse. You should immediately repent to Allah, Most High, from these actions and make a strong intention to never return to it.
Know that Allah, Most High, forgives all sins and descends his mercy upon all those who seek it. The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“The one who repents from a sin is like one who did not sin.”
(Ibn Maja’, al-Sunan)
 If one is already divorced, then, of course, they may pursue marriage with another person.
Seeking Divorce
As for seeking a divorce in this situation, you should first try to save your marriage through the aforementioned methods.
If you cannot save your marriage, you should express your desire for a divorce to your husband. Your intention should be that the divorce is amicable for the sake of the children.
If your husband is unwilling to give you a divorce, please read the following answer for more information.
And Allah alone knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Does the mispronunciation of words nullify my prayer?

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Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
May Allah, Most High, reward you for your desire to increase in knowledge.
  1. Unintentionally mispronouncing a letter or two does not nullify your prayer. Your prayer is valid.
  1. Reciting the incorrect word in a verse and then returning to correct it does not affect the prayer’s validity. Your prayer is valid.
(Ibn Abidin, al-Hashiya)
Before beginning your prayer, consider reciting the ta`awwudh (I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed devil) and make a short supplication to ask Allah to free you of misgivings.
And Allah alone knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Is the child my father had outside of wedlock my brother?

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Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
May Allah, Most High, reward you for your desire to increase in knowledge.
The child that is born out of wedlock is ascribed to the mother and not the father. Hence, the boy is not your brother.
If your father was married to the mother of this child, then he is your half-brother.
The relationship of unmarriageable kin (Mahramiyya) is established in three ways; kinship, foster relationship, and relationship through marriage.
If this child was not breastfed by the same wet nurse you had, he is not your brother through a foster relationship.
If this child is not related to you by marriage, he is not your brother.
Yes, this child was born from the same father. However, due to your father not being married to this child’s mother, the child is legally not his son and cannot be attributed to him.
As long as the child has not reached puberty, you may interact with him as you do with all children. Once the child reaches puberty, You must observe all the rules and decorum of dealing with the opposite gender when it comes to this child.

(Kasani, Bada`i al-Sana`i)

This child is your ‘brother in Islam’. You should grant him the same rights you would grant your neighbor or friend, such as helping them when they are ill, replying to their greeting, etc.

Please see: Who is a Mahram.
May Allah, Most High, raise your status in paradise for your worry and care of others.
And Allah alone knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

What do I do if I skipped a few verses during prayer?

/in , /by
Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
May Allah, Most High, reward you for your desire to increase in knowledge.
You should return to the verses that you skipped. It is not required to recite the Sura in its entirety and then return. (Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah)
Recitation of the Quran during prayer should not be done quickly but rather slow and melodious.
The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“He is not one of us who does not make his voice beautiful with the Quran.” (Bukhari, al-Sahih)
Please See: Skipping Verses
And Allah alone knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani