Answered by Shaykh Salman Younas Question My wife works at a travel agency. During the year, not consistently, the company will have what they call educational overseas—usually, Mauritius, Thailand, etc. I want to ask whether we are allowed to go on these vacations without a mahram. Also, there are people from other agencies, and obviously, […]

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas Question I disagree with a famous and influential ideologue named Claire Khaw. Claire claims to have invented a new version of Shari’a called “Secular Koranism.” In developing her Shari’a, Claire only allows the Koran to be used and no other texts outside of the Quran. Claire makes the following statements […]

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas Question Please shed some light on Syed lineage in Islam. There’s a trend in society not to marry Syed boy/girl to Non-Syed girl/boy. The parents of the Syed boy/girl say that their elders have advised them not to ally with Non-Syeds because marrying Syed to Non-Syed, especially Pathans. They believe […]

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas Question I recently met this boy I like, and I’m pretty sure he likes me back, but we’re only 14, almost 15, and I want to avoid an unhalal relationship with Zina. Is it possible to get married in Islam at this age, as my older brother, at 17, got […]

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas Question What is the Hanafi ruling of a woman traveling locally and internationally safely without a mahram? Answer The Hanafi school stipulates a mahram for any travel undertaken by a woman exceeding the travel-distance, which is 48 miles. However, the position I have seen adopted by my teachers and other […]

Answered by Shaykh Salman Younas Question I know a young boy who claimed he made a huge error. He is frightened of this error and is inquiring about what he should do. The situation goes that this young boy was watching something on his phone, which made him jump in horror, to which he said, […]

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas Question If I operate a cake and confectionery business and my customers asked me to prepare a cake celebrating Diwali or their gay marriage, am I sinful in providing them with this service? Answer The general rule is that this would be permitted. This is because the activity you are […]

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas Question Seeing as how many countries are now democratic instead of autocratic, would it be permissible for a woman to be prime minister or president? Answer In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate Assalamu Alaykum The common hadith that is cited to justify that a woman cannot […]

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas Question I went to Hajj and did one umrah (a second one) and used a zero trimmer machine to remove my hair. My hair was minimal as I did an umrah (first) earlier and removed all my hair using the same machine. After my 2nd umrah, I had doubts if […]

Question: What is the Islamic position on the concept of time travel? Alternate/parallel worlds? Multiverse? Answer: assalamu alaykum Theologically, all of the things you mention are from the realm of the possible. In Islam, we affirm a type of ‘alternate world’ when it comes to the realm of the barzakh and the alam al-mithal. There […]

Question: Is it possible, through the practice of Islam, to reach a level higher than that of the Prophet Muhammad? Answer: assalamu alaykum This is not possible, and there is a consensus of the ummah that the Prophet (blessings upon him) is the greatest of creation. As Imam al-Laqqani stated, “It is obligatory (wajib) on […]

Answer: assalamu alaykum It would be permitted for you to inherit from your non-Muslim mother in this case. Though the four schools state that this would generally be impermissible, there is (a) a difference of opinion among some of the salaf as to whether this rule applies to a Muslim inheriting from a non-Muslim and […]

Question:  In the UK we have some parts of the country which have restriction on the number of people that can pray in a place of worship. So with this cap, mosques are having to decline people’s entry to the Jummah and these people are not able to attend jummah thus having to pray Zuhr […]

Question: I hope you are well inshallah. With Ramadan fast approaching and mosques closed due to the current situation, would it be permissible to pray Taraweeh over video conferencing? Answer: Assalamu alaykum It is not valid to perform congregational prayer over the internet and through video conferencing. Legal Reasoning The reason for this is that […]

Question: In light of the current pandemic, is it permissible to stay at home to pray salah including jummah salah (zuhr if not enough family members) and eid salah even if masjids are open again? My concern is, is that there is still a chance of getting the virus as it hasn’t been confirmed to […]

Question: An individual I know has asked for advice regarding the following situation he is in and has accepted gaining advice from the knowledgable scholars at SeekersGuidance. Two years ago he made the mistake of having a child outside of wedlock. Please could you outline, if any, obligations that he has to the child outside […]

Question: I was wondering is it possible for me a gay man to marry a woman to fulfill my duties as a Muslim, especially if I am confident I will treat her well. Or is this deception and unfair to her. In this case, what is expected, am I to remain single? Are there any […]

Question: Is the page internet archive, where you can download books from great scholars permissible? Can one download the books, even though they are for sale on other pages?  Answer:  Assalamu Alaykum It is important to note that copyright rules are binding in the shariah. Thus, it is not permissible to publish, copy, or reproduce the […]

Question: What are the blasphemy laws in Islam? Answer: Assalamu Alaykum This is a topic with many details and differences. I cannot do it full justice here and so all I will say is that, yes, there is a concept of ‘blasphemy’ in our legal tradition. Though often associated today with the sanctity of the […]

Question: With regards to khalwa, is it okay to ride with the opposite gender in a car? Not as in chauffeuring but riding with them in the front seat because you know them and you are going to a common destination? Answer: Assalamu alaykum The definition of seclusion (khalwa) that jurists provided was for a […]

Question: If someone is spending money on his married sister who is financially stable, is it considered sadaqah? If it is not sadaqa but ihsan, what are the virtues of Ihsan? And is it better to spend his money as sadaqah to needy people or helping a community? Answer: Assalamu alaykum The word sadaqa is […]

Originally Published: 22/06/2016 With half of Ramadan gone, does your worship feel routine and stale? Is feeling this way making you lazier and less excited about performing more acts of worship? Ustadh Salman Younas says this is not uncommon. This is a challenge that every one of us faces when it comes to our acts of worship. […]

The COVID-19 crisis is an unprecedented event that has seriously impacted people. Individuals are not only isolated from family and community, many have lost their livelihoods and are struggling. In times like these, Muslims are taught to come to the aid of others through their wealth, time, and resources in order to ensure the safety […]

A few days ago, I visited the local supermarket to stock up on some basic supplies for the home – some rice, canned food, tissues, cleaning items, and medicine. An announcement from the government was imminent, and anticipating a potential decision to close schools, offices, and other public venues and activities, people were rushing to […]