Issues That Muslims Need to Know

A fatwa in English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "What is the definition of riba? If we take into account the fact that in most countries the economy is based on the principle of the circulation of capital, which includes lending, is accepting payment in that particular currency for any work regarded as an action that supports the riba-based system? Is using the currency of a state that is based on riba regarded as contributing to the usurious economy? Undoubtedly the employee in a riba-based bank plays a part in riba-based transactions one way or another, even if he is a security guard for the bank. Could you offer him a better job if you have anything to offer?"

A fatwa in English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "I do not fast. Will I be punished on the Day of Resurrection?"

A fatwa in English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "Is it mandatory for a pregnant woman to observe fasting in Ramadan and Ashoora? I advised my wife not to fast during the last Ramadan and she was not fasting because she was pregnant. She was anaemic when she was pregnant. She had miscarried by end of Ramadan when she was 12 weeks pregnant. What is the ruling about her missed fasting during Ramadan? Does she have to complete them before next Ramadan? Can she fast normally when she finds that she is pregnant? She always insists on fasting during pregnancy. Any medical proof will also help that the baby won't be harmed by fasting during pregnancy."

A fatwa in English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "What are the reasons for which one may be excused from fasting in Ramadaan?"

A fatwa in English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "I have a friend who told me that he had practised the secret habit in Ramadaan and asked me: What is the ruling on that? After Ramadaan ended, he made up that day. What is the ruling?"

A fatwa in English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "Does tabarruj invalidate the fast?"

A fatwa translated into English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "It is well known that celebrating the Prophet's birthday is a heresy. A lot of people have Mawlids, but not to celebrate the prophets birthday but to learn about his life and so on and so forth. If the event is not taking place on the Prophet's birthday, is it still considered forbidden in Islam? Is it just the use of the word mawlid that causes the event to be considered forbidden? For example, if I were to learn about the Prophet's life ..., etc. but not associate the word Mawlid to it, would it still be considered forbidden? In the same event, people would be fed ..., etc. I ask this because a wedding dinner will be held in the upcoming weekend on Saturday and since there will be a gathering of people, the hosts decided to teach people about the prophet after the dinner in the masjid. They called it a mawlid but neither does it fall on the day the prophet was born nor used to celebrate the birth of the prophet but instead to teach them about the Prophet. They are doing this instead of having dancing ..., etc. so that people would benefit more from learning about the life of the prophet. Please advise. Secondly, If I were to have a gathering at the mosque just to teach people about the life of the prophet and provide food to those who attend, would this be considered forbidden?"

A fatwa translated into English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "On every last Sunday of the month, we get together with a group of 30 or more sisters and each of us reads two or three hizb (portions of the Quran) until we complete the entire Quran in one and a half or two hours. We have been told that this will count, insha Allah, as a completion of the Quran for each one of us. Is that correct? Afterward, we supplicate and ask Allah to give the recitation reward to the rest of the believers, living and dead. Will the reward reach the dead? They quote as evidence for that the words of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), “When a man dies, all his good deeds come to an end except three: Ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous son who will supplicate for him.” On the festival of the Prophet’s birthday, they hold a ribaat (vigil) which starts at 10 a.m. and lasts until 3 p.m. They start with prayers for forgiveness, praise of Allah, and exalting the Prophet's mention silently then they read the Quran, and some sisters fast on that day. Is singling out this day for all these acts of worship regarded as a heresy? We also have a long supplication seeking blessing that we say at the time of suhoor for those who are able to say it. It is called du’aa’ al-raabitah. It starts by sending greetings to our Prophet Muhammad, his family, other Prophets, Mothers of the Believers, the female companions of the Prophet, the Rightly Guided Caliphs, the Taabi’een, and the righteous close friends (awliya’) of Allah, mentioning each of them by name. Is it correct that mentioning all these names will make their owners recognize us and call out to us in Paradise? Is this supplication a heresy? I feel that it is, but most of the sisters disagree with me. Will I be punished by Allah if I am wrong? How can I convince them if I am correct? This matter is making me lose sleep and every time I remember the Prophetic saying that every newly-invented matter is a heresy and every heresy is a going-astray, and every going-astray will be in the Hellfire, my worry and grief get even worse."

A fatwa translated into English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "Is it permissible for Muslims to congratulate each other and give duaa on the new year based on the Gregorian calendar without the intention of celebrating it?"

A fatwa translated into English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "What do you say to Muslims in the United Kingdom who celebrate at Christmas time or afterward by holding dinner parties in their houses, for their Muslim families, such as preparing the roast turkey and other dishes of the traditional Christmas dinner, and they adorn their houses with balloons and paper chains, and they do the “secret Santa” tradition, whereby each relative brings a gift for one of the people present and these gifts are brought to the party to be given to the one for whom he bought it, without the recipient knowing who he is. “Secret Santa” is a new, growing custom among non Muslims who celebrate Christmas, and is in accordance with their belief in the myth of Santa Claus. Is this action regarded as permissible or forbidden in Islam, if no one is attending this party except Muslims (relatives and family members)?"

A fatwa translated into English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "What are the definitions of imitating the West? Does everything that is modern and new and has come to us from the West imply imitation of them? In other words, when can we say that something is forbidden because it is an imitation of the unbelievers?"

A fatwa translated into English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "Is it permissible to attend the celebrations of Christian festivals and congratulate them?

A fatwa translated into English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "Can we take part in non-Muslim celebrations only so that they might be attracted to our celebrations too?"

A fatwa translated into English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "I see many "Muslims" joining in Christmas and other celebrations. Is there any proof from the Quran and Sunnah that I can present to them to show that these are indeed very sinful practices?"

A fatwa translated into English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "Will the expected Mahdi resemble the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)? What about the voices that have emerged in recent times and claim that he is here and has been born, i.e., he exists at present?"

A fatwa translated into English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "In the present distressed situation, many people including scholars are found to talk about the Renaissance of Islam and the emergence of Imam Mehdi. I want to ask about two things: First, who is or may be Imam Mehdi and is there any evidence about his possible emergence, in the light of the Quran and Hadith? Secondly, what will be the order of occurrence of events before the last day, including the emergence of Al-Mahdy, the anti-Christ, Gog and Magog, and Prophet Jesus? Kindly reply in detail."

A fatwa translated into English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "Are there any supplications that we can say at times of calamity and tribulation such as war and attacks against Muslim countries?"

A fatwa translated into English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "What is meant by belief in the Last Day?"

"A fatwa translated into English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, ""What is the difference between the Mahdi and the Messiah?"" "

A fatwa translated into English in which Sh. Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjed answers the following question, "Who is the Dajjaal and what are his attributes?"