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Haram Money

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Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question: Assalamu alaykum

If someone lent somebody halal money and the person returns the money from a haram source. Is it okay to accept that money?

Answer: Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

Yes, you can take the money from them. In general, when someone acquires money we don’t look at the actual bank notes. We look at the money that is in his possession, some of which could be from a halal source. You can assume that the repaid to you was from an alternative halal source. (Usmani, Fiqh al Buyu’)

The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, told us, “Love for people what you would love for yourself.” (Ibn Majah) Being safe from the punishment for such activities is something everyone would want for themselves. Therefore, if you think it will make a difference, try advising this person in a gentle, understanding manner.

You never know, maybe your words will have a positive effect on them. Regardless, you should pray for such a person to be given the ability to get out of that situation.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 to study and sit at the feet of some of the most erudite scholars of our time.

Over the following eighteen months he studied a traditional curriculum, studying with scholars such as Shaykh Adnan Darwish, Shaykh Abdurrahman Arjan, Shaykh Hussain Darwish and Shaykh Muhammad Darwish.

In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years, in Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Theology, Hadith Methodology and Commentary, Shama’il, and Logic with teachers such as Dr Ashraf Muneeb, Dr Salah Abu’l-Hajj, Dr Hamza al-Bakri, Shaykh Ahmad Hasanat, Dr Mansur Abu Zina amongst others. He was also given two licences of mastery in the science of Qur’anic recital by Shakh Samir Jabr and Shaykh Yahya Qandil.

His true passion, however, arose in the presence of Shaykh Ali Hani, considered by many to be one of the foremost tafsir scholars of our time who provided him with the keys to the vast knowledge of the Quran. With Shaykh Ali, he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Qur’anic Sciences, Tafsir, Arabic Grammar, and Rhetoric.

When he finally left Jordan for the UK in 2014, Shaykh Ali gave him his distinct blessing and still recommends students in the UK to seek out Shaykh Abdul-Rahim for Quranic studies. Since his return he has trained as a therapist and has helped a number of people overcome emotional and psychosomatic issues. He is a keen promoter of emotional and mental health.

Hiding Money Before Going to the Friday Prayer

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Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question: Assalamu alaykum

1) When I go to jummah, I leave my money in the car (on purpose) so when people ask me for money, I would say, “I don’t have money on me right now”. I was referring to my pockets since the money is in the car. Is this sinful or lying?

2) I saw a spider in the bathroom and I was a bit angry, so I nearly said a curse word. A few seconds later, I wondered if my curse was addressed to Allah. This isn’t the first time I have had such thoughts when cursing.

Answer: Assalamu alaykum brother,

Money at the mosque

May Allah reward you for attending the Friday prayer (jumu`ah) to fulfil your weekly obligation. It is not considered lying or sinful when you tell them that you don’t have money on you right now. I am not sure what your personal situation is, or the situation at your mosque, but it is praiseworthy to give in charity. If you accustom yourself to give a little charity every week, you will find it benefit you in the afterlife in sha Allah.

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.” [Tirmidhi] and he said, “Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.” [Tirmidhi] He also said, may Allah bless him and give him peace, “O son of Adam! If you give your surplus it is better for you, and if you keep it, it is worse for you, but there is no harm with what is sufficient. And begin (the giving) with your dependents, and the upper hand (giving) is better than the lower hand (receiving).“ [Tirmidhi]

Even giving a dollar or two from your pocket is a good habit. `Aisha narrated, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and give him peace, said, ‘The most beloved deed to Allah is the most consistent even if it were little.‘“

Cursing

As for cursing, it is not suitable for a believer to be cursing or swearing, especially at a little spider. Please refer to the following links for information and references on the subject.
Can I Still Use an Object That I Have Cursed?
The Ruling on Swearing

I don’t believe your curse was addressed to Allah, most High. It depends, of course, on what you said exactly. For example, saying, “Damn spider!“ does not refer to your Lord.

Try to change your cursing habit. Whenever you see something that is disagreeable, praise your Lord. Try it every time you are upset, and it will become a habit. You will even end up with a good deed for saying it and it will help you calm down in sha Allah. Not to mention, it will improve your character, as well.

Allah says, “For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah . Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any protector. [Qur`an, 13:11]

Wassalam,
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafseer and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterwards, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

My Family Members Financially Exploit Me. Do I Need to Get Married to Improve My Circumstances?

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Answered by Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil

Question: Assalam aleykum,

My father passed away recently. Lately, I feel so frustrated because I think I need someone to make me feel I am special, someone who will help me with my business, and someone who will marry me, to be my mahram. I feel this because I am tired of being abused in terms of money by my relatives. I cannot say no to them.

For example, my mother is always borrowing my money for my siblings and their families. I feel it’s so unfair. I’m always crying and think that if my father were here, that would not happen. So it makes me think that I need someone to marry me, for my relatives to think that I also need to save money because I have my own family. What should I do?

Answer: Assalamualaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray this finds you well. May Allah reward you for reaching out to us. Please forgive me for the delay.

Boundaries

Dear sister, I am sorry that you are struggling so much with the death of your father, and the financial troubles with your family. You sound like a kind, generous and loving young woman, and I pray that Allah rewards your sacrifices in this world and the next.

When you feel lonely and overwhelmed, it is natural for you to long for the support and love of a husband. We were all created to long for that special kind of companionship. If Allah wills it, then marriage would be a wonderful protection for you. However, until that happens, I suggest that you work on improving your assertiveness skills.

Marriage

Keep in mind that when you are feeling vulnerable, you risk rushing into marriage with an unsuitable husband. If you do not learn how to assert yourself, then you risk getting married to someone who can take advantage of your kindness and generosity. A stressful marriage can potentially make things worse for you.

Please educate yourself through the SeekersHub course Marriage in Islam: Practical Guidance for Successful Marriages, the lesson set Getting Married with Ustadha Shireen Ahmed and Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, and by reading books such as Before You Tie The Knot.

Instead of hoping that marriage will make things easier for you, trust that you already have the skills within you to improve your life. For example, you need to learn how to be more assertive with your family members, and how to budget your finances.

Support

Who else can you lean on for support? Do you have close friends? Other relatives?

I urge you to wake up in the last third of the night, every night, or as frequently as you are able to, and perform the Prayer of Need.

Counselling

Please look for a Muslimah life coach, culturally-sensitive counsellor, psychologist, or holistic healer, to help you learn how to say no. Start to value your own self, independent of any man in your life. You are already important because you exist. You already matter to Allah. Allah has blessed you with the gift of belief.

Assertiveness

If you are struggling to find help, then I strongly suggest that you try some self-hypnosis downloads. You can listen to tracks such as these in the comfort of your own home:

Assertiveness training
10 Steps to Absolute Assertiveness

Please focus on growing stronger and more grounded. This will help you make better life choices.

It can be extremely difficult to say no to family members, especially your mother. The first time you say no will be the hardest. I pray that it gets easier with practice.

Finances

Could you consider hiring a financial planner to help you with your finances? Sit down with a professional to work out a proper budget. Decide how much you want to save, how much you can donate to your family, and how much you need for expenses.

When you have a budget in front of you, then you will feel less overwhelmed. You do not need to be married and have children to create a budget.

Father

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (upon him be blessings and peace) as saying: “A strong believer is better and is more beloved to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone, (but) cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart, and if anything (in the form of trouble) comes to you, don’t say: If I had not done that, it would not have happened so and so, but say: Allah did that what He had ordained to do and your ‘if’ opens the (gate) for Satan.” [Sahih Muslim]

I am sorry that you have lost the protection of love and of your father. As heartbreaking as it is, know that now you have the opportunity to learn how to stand up for yourself. You do not need to remain a victim. You can choose to empower yourself.

Trial

Narrated Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah’s Messenger (upon him be blessings and peace) said, “If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials.” [Bukhari]

This dunya is a place of tests and tribulations. I encourage you to reflect on the most common and recurring tests in your life. Allah sends these trials to you to help you grow, out of love for you. The sooner you learn these lessons, then the sooner you can move on to your next area of growth. Know that growth is often painful, even though it is good for you.

I encourage you to read up on Growth Mindset to help you reframe your challenges.

Self-care

I suggest that you download apps such as Calm and Headspace to help you learn how to notice and let go of your troubled thoughts. Mindfulness will not make your fears and worries go away, but it will help you cope better with them. Ensure that you are eating nutritious food, exercising, keeping good company, and giving in charity either in time, money, or both.

I pray that Allah grants you courage, wisdom, and nearness to Him.

Please see:

Love, Marriage and Relationships in Islam: All Your Questions Answered
Selected Prophetic Prayers for Spiritual, Physical and Emotional Wellbeing by Chaplain Ibrahim Long

Wassalam,
[Ustadha] Raidah Shah Idil

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil has spent almost two years in Amman, Jordan, where she learned Shafi’i’ fiqh, Arabic, Seerah, Aqeedah, Tasawwuf, Tafsir and Tajweed. She continues to study with her Teachers in Malaysia and online through SeekersHub Global. She graduated with a Psychology and English degree from University of New South Wales, was a volunteer hospital chaplain for 5 years and has completed a Diploma of Counselling from the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors. She lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with her husband, daughter, and mother-in-law.

Day 19: Give A Good Loan – 30 Deeds 30 Days

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Day 19: Give A Good Loan

Scholars say that giving a loan can have greater reward than charity, because it creates a good relationship where one person empowers another, and gives them a sense of responsibility and a preservation of dignity. There is a time for charity, and a time for lending.

This Ramadan, if you are able, try to empower someone by loaning money to someone who asks for it. It may be to start a business venture, go on a trip, or make a purchase they need. Do it with respect and kindness, and be hopeful for Allah’s reward.

Bring new life to this Ramadan by enrolling in a FREE On-Demand course.

My Father Doesn’t Pray and Drinks Alcohol. Can I Use the Money He Gives Me?

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Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

My father is a distributor of a well-known company. He does not pray, uses alcohol and rarely fasts. My dad uses credit cards (so he pays interest). Since I have no income, and am a full-time student in a private school, I have no way to pay my own tuition nor feed myself.

I have tried to restrict myself to eat less, to not give in charity with the money my dad gives us, but to no avail. Is my father’s money haram for me to use, or spend in charity?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

No, it is not unlawful for you to use the money your father provides you.

If he has a lawful line of income, you can make a general assumption that the money which comes into your possession is from the lawful portion of his wealth. Otherwise, ask Allah Most High for an independent, lawful means of livelihood, and pray that your father changes his ways.

[al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya]

Please also see: What is the Ruling on Receiving Things From Others That Were Acquired With Unlawful Money? and: Accepting Wealth from a Person Whose Wealth is Predominantly Unlawful

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

wassalam,

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.

The Etiquette of Earning a Livelihood: A Comprehensive SeekersHub Reader

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The etiquette of earning a livelihood forms the 13th chapter of Imam Al-Ghazali’s seminal work, the Ihya, which is widely regarded as the greatest work on Islamic spirituality in the world.

 

Is It Disbelief to Use Money on Which Images Representing Disbelief Are Found?

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Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: Assalam Alaykum

If there are words of disbelief on the money of a country, or pictures that represent disbelief, are we doing anything wrong by using it?

Answer: Assalamu alaykum

This is not disbelief.

The ruling of disbelief relates to what one believes or chooses not to believe. A Muslim does not leave faith except by denying that which brought him into it in the first place, as Imam al-Tahawi mentions. Using a stamp or some currency that has pictures or symbols of the type you describe does not mean that one actually believes in what these pictures/symbols represent.

In fact, the earliest Muslims used as their currency coins that were already in circulation in the Sassanian and Byzantine empires. For example, coins dated to the year 31 A.H./652 A.D. show an Arab-Sassanian fire-altar with attendants. The same image is found on coin minted during the time of Mu‘awiya (God be well pleased with him) and his successors from the Ummayad dynasty. The fire altar, as you may know, was an important symbol in Zoroastrianism. Yet, early Muslims, which included the Companions, used coinage that depicted the fire altar for decades.

The above is merely to show that historically Muslim used such coinage and did not consider it “disbelief” to do so. Rather, as mentioned above, disbelief is a matter of the heart relating to rejecting that which one is required to believe in in order to remain a Muslim.

For more see: A Reader on Disbelief

[Ustadh] Salman Younas

Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Salman Younas graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. After studying the Islamic sciences online and with local scholars in New York, Ustadh Salman moved to Amman. There he studies Islamic law, legal methodology, belief, hadith methodology, logic, Arabic, and tafsir.

The Story of Abdul Razzaq and Abdul Ghani, by Novid Shaid

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Writer and poet, Novid Shaid, weaves a tale of two men who led very different lives with what they were granted by Allah.

There were once two men: Abdul Razzaq and Abdul Ghani.
Abdul Razzaq was a faithful man, who was very resourceful, with a talent for acquiring wealth. By the age of forty, he had paid off the mortgages of three properties, rented them out and his portfolio continued to grow promisingly.
He spent on local projects and was always generous to the mosque and community. When his daughters got married, he gave each of them lavish send offs, inviting the whole community and ensuring everyone left the hall with a satisfied smile on their faces. His wife was always cheerful and regularly invited the local ladies around her luxuriant house to read Quran and send blessings on the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. This house was always blessed with the pitter-patter of his daughters’ children, with guests from Pakistan, with local dignitaries and businessmen.
The only thing they seemed to lack was sons. But both husband and wife were grateful for what Allah had given them and inwardly they were content. When the couple passed on, it was noticed that a hint of a smile appeared on their faces and people reported that they had heard the shahadah (testimony of faith) from their lips. Thereafter, Abdul Razzaq was lauded and remembered as an exceptional individual, who had lived the best life possible, rich in this world and rich in the next world.
Abdul Ghani was a contemporary of Abdul Razzaq, who lived some two miles away from Razzaq’s spacious, detached property on the outskirts of town. Incidentally, the two men were frequently seen standing next to each other in the congregational prayers at the mosque. But unlike Razzaq, Abdul Ghani had struggled to make ends meet throughout his life, with jobs in factories, two of which had laid him off, and taxi jobs. He had never been clever enough to multiply his wealth and, for decades and decades, he had to graft just to subsist.
His worldly possessions did not amount to much: a terraced house in a cramped area of town and an old people carrier which doubled up as a taxi. His only child and son, Hasan, inherited his dad’s artlessness and did not amount to much at school, ending up working in the local supermarket. Hasan was wedded off in Abdul Ghani’s ancestral village in Kashmir and it took Hasan and his father several years of hard work to bring the bride to England. Mrs Ghani was a simple woman who seldom complained and phlegmatically moved to each phase of her life, enshrouded in her white chadour and her few friends, whom she would call to her house from time to time.
And that’s how Ghani lived, until old age took him and his wife. Fate had it that the next available space in the local graveyard was next to Abdul Razzaq. So there the two graves stood: Abdul Razzaq’s marble gravestone, inscribed with exquisite calligraphy and Abdul Ghani’s cheap and cheerful piece with the plain inscription from the Quran: “From Allah did we come and to Him we will return”.
One day, after a burial nearby, two old acquaintances of Razzaq stood before these two graves.
“Our friend, Abdul Razzaq. What a man! So generous, such a good Muslim. Masha Allah, he had been blessed with such wealth and I will never forget that smile on his face when he passed on.”
The other looked at Abdul Ghani’s grave: “Abdul Ghani… Poor man, he worked so hard…”
That night, these two men saw some familiar faces in their dreams. The first man saw Abdul Razzaq with a face radiant and pure, but there seemed to be a weight on his back.
“How is it with you Abdul Razzaq?”
“Life is blessed,” replied Abdul Razzaq, “this world is better than yours, but all the wealth that I did not use for His pleasure has become a burden on my back.”
The other man saw Abdul Ghani, enlightened, princely, ennobled.
“How is it with you Abdul Ghani?”
“In the dunya, I was nobody. No one thought of me much or praised my name. But every penny I had, I spent for His sake, and when everyone was asleep, I used to wake up and praise His name. Now the angels visit me in a lush garden filled with exquisite fruit. His sincere remembrance has the highest value here, and money… Money means nothing here, except what was for Allah…”
[cwa id=’cta’]

Resources for seekers

Debt: How It Destroys Lives, How You Can Fight It

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RizqwiseThe good folks at Rizqwise have a very worthy multi-part series on debt that you should really listen to.
If you haven’t got the time, this concluding episode is not to be missed. Rizqwise speak to Rehan Huda, a prominent investment banker and leading authority in Islamic Finance, about some of the key lessons we can learn from the long history of debt.
Don’t forget to subscribe to their email newsletter to stay up to date.

Debt: The Full Rizqwise Series

  • How Debt Destroys Lives, Communities, and Civilizations
    Duration: 53:11
  • How to Stay Out of Debt (For Good)
    Duration: 33:58
  • Ask Risqwise: Is investing in the stock market risky?
    Duration: 27:51
  • How to Get Back on Track With Your Debt Elimination Plan
    Duration: 29:16
  • 5 Tips to Stay Motivated While Paying Off Debt
    Duration: 29:09
  • Ask Rizqwise: Should I pay off loans before investing?
    Duration: 18:45
  • Avalanche vs Snowball: Two Very Different Ways to Pay Off Debt
    Duration: 29:51
  • Ask Rizqwise: How do I go “all in” on debt?
    Duration: 26:14
  • How to Set Your Debt Free Date
    Duration: 27:31
  • The Critical First Step to Eliminating Debt Once and For All
    Duration: 20:18
  • Ask Rizqwise: Why Credit Cards Make You Spend More Money
    Duration: 20:58
  • The Great Debate: Active vs Passive Investing
    Duration: 29:21
  • Ask Rizqwise: Getting Married and Out of Debt
    Duration: 25:38

 

Resources for seekers:

 

Is a Henna Event Permissible?

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Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: I am getting married soon and had two questions:

1. Is a Henna event permissible? It will be an only women’s gathering in which girls will put henna on their hands and there will be food.

2. There is a tradition in which the sisters of the bride hide the groom’s shoe until he gives them a mutually agreed on sum of money. Is this ok to do?

Answer: assalamu `alaykum

1. There’s no harm in specifying a day to have a Henna event for your upcoming wedding as long as what is taking place during the event is permissible (applying henna and serving food is).

Similarly, there is nothing wrong in calling this event a Mehndi.

2. The groom may, of course, give a monetary gift to his in-laws. As for the practice of ‘stealing’/hiding the groom’s shoes, this is primarily a cultural practice that occurs in Indian and Pakistani weddings. As long as there is (a) no shariah contraventions (such as physical touching between non-mahrams or the groom’s male relatives chasing the women etc.) or (b) specific imitation of others’ religious ceremonies, the act itself would be permitted.

I would add that a wedding in Islam is an important event connected to the completion of our religion. While expressions of joy and entertainment are permitted, also try to make it an event that demonstrates your thankfulness to God for all of His blessings.

May you have a blessed wedding.

Salman

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani