Q. Before the Imaam said the Takbeer Tahrimah, a Muqtadi said ‘Allahu Akbar’ and folded his hands. Is his Salaat valid?
A. His Salaat is not valid in this case.

Q. After the Imaam stood up from Sajdah, a Muqtadi still remains in Sajdah. He joined the Imaam in Qiyaam after the Imaam had begun to recite Surah Faatihah. What is the position of the Muqtadi’s Salaat?
A. Such delay is Makrooh. It is sinful. Nevertheless, the Muqtadi’s Salaat remains valid.

Q. After performing Salaat, it occurred to me that I did not make masah on my khuffain. I made wudhu again, made masah and repeated the Salaat. Is this correct?
A. It was not necessary to have repeated wudhu. You were required to have only made the masah on the khuffain (leather socks) and repeat the Salaat.

Q. Does the Shariah stipulate any particular sum to be paid to the husband when Khula’ takes place?
A. The Shariah does not stipulate any amount. However, it is Makrooh for the husband to demand more than the Mehr amount which he had paid to his wife. (Khula’ is a contract between husband and wife whereby she purchases her divorce from her husband who otherwise refuses to issue Talaaq. It is a voluntary agreement which cannot be imposed on any of the spouses.)

Q. A Masbooq joined the Salaat after the Imaam had made Sajdah Sahw. Is this Masbooq’s Salaat valid?
A. Yes, his Salaat is valid.

Q. As the Imaam was making the right Salaam, a latecomer joined the Jamaat. He said his Takbeer Tahrimah just as the Imaam had ended the recitation of the first Salaam. Is his Salaat valid?
A. His Salaat is not valid. He has to repeat his Salaat.If he had recited his Takbeer before the Imaam had completed the first Salaam, his Salaat would have been valid.

Q. The Imaam had missed out Qa’dah Ulaa (the first sitting). None of the Muqtadis reminded him. After the Salaat, this was brought to the Imaam’s notice. The Salaat was repeated in Jamaat. However, some persons arriving late, joined this second Jamaat. Was their joining proper? Was their Fardh Salaat discharged?
A. When the Fardh Salaat is repeated due to the omission of a Waajib act for which Sajdah Sahw was not made, then the repeated Salaat is Nafl. The first Salaat which was performed defectively remains the Fardh Salaat. As such, the Fardh Salaat of those who had joined in the repeated Salaat is not valid.

Q. While cutting my finger nails on Friday during the day time, I was told that it is better to cut the nails during the night time. Is this correct?
A. There is no special merit in cutting the nails during the night time. It is only permissible.

Q. Some people believe that during the month of Ramadhaan, the souls are released and allowed to roam among the living.When the Imaam ascends the mimbar on Eidul Fitr, the souls return to their resting places. Is this belief valid?
A. It is a baseless belief. The souls are either in Illiyyeen which is a spiritual paradise of comfort, pleasure and rest. The question of ‘release’ from this Paradise does not arise since it is not a place of torment from which release is desired. The evil souls are in Sijjeen which is an abode of torment and punishment from which release is not possible without the permission of Allah Ta’ala. During the month of Ramadhaan, punishment is suspended. But there is no Shar’i basis for claiming that these souls are released from Sijjeen and that they roam around the world.

Q. A musalli remembers during the Ruku’of the second raka’t that he had made only one Sajdah in the first raka’t. What should he do?
A. He should immediately go into Sajdah. After Sajdah, he should return to the ruku’. Sajdah Sahw is also Waajib.

Q. A Madrasah Ustaad beat a child with a cane leaving blue marks on his back and legs. The parents have reported the matter to the police. Criminal charges have been laid. Was it permissible for the parents to have reported the Ustaad to the police?
A. The Ustaad had committed a haraam act. He has no right of beating the child with a cane nor with his hands. The zulm (cruelty) of which he is guilty is a grave sin. Inspite of this, it is wrong and un-Islamic for the parents to have reported the matter to the police, especially to the kuffaar. The Madrasah principal should take up the matter with the Ustaadh and institute appropriate disciplinary action against the Ustaad. Muslims should not go to the unjust kuffaar law institutions in such matters.

Q. As a latecomer enters the Tashahhud position, the Imaam makes Salaam. Does this musalli have to recite the whole of Attahiyaat before getting up to complete the raka’ts he had missed?
A. Yes, he has to recite the whole of Attahiyaat.

Q. Frequently it is observed that when the Athaan is proclaimed, dogs in the vicinity begin to howl. Is there any particular reason for this?
A. According to the Hadith, when the Athaan is recited, shaitaan becomes terrified and he flees, running away by leaps and bounds. Animals are able to witness this. The howling in all probability is on account of the dogs seeing the flight of shaitaan. They too become scared of shaitaan.

Q. If the Athaan begins while one is reciting the Qur’aan or an Ustaadh is engaged in teaching, what should be done?
A. The Tilaawat and the teaching should be suspended. It is necessary to listen to the Athaan and to respond to the Muath-thin’s statements. The Tilaawat and teaching could resume after the Athaan.

Q. How is it to appoint as Imaam a person who is insolent and disrespectful to his father and ustaad?
A. Such an insolent person is a faasiq of a high degree. He is a great sinner. It is not permissible to appoint him as Imaam. Such insolence has far reaching and disastrous consequences both in this world and the Aakhirah.

Q. Is it permissible to appoint a faasiq as a mutawalli of a Musjid solely to appease people?
A. The laws of the Shariah may not be violated to appease people. It is not permissible to appoint a faasiq to the trusteeship of a Musjid. The concern of Mu’mineen should be the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, not the pleasure of errant people who have no respect for the Shariah of Allah Ta’ala.

Q. A woman dies during childbirth. The child too is stillborn. How should kafan and dafan be executed? Some people say that the child should not be detached from the mother. Both should be wrapped in the same kafan and buried together.
A. The child should be separated and buried separately. There is neither ghusl nor Janaazah Salaat for the stillborn child.

Q. If a woman cannot be found to give ghusl to a female mayyit, what is to be done?
A. A close male relative (mahram) should give her Tayammum. If there is no mahram to give Tayammum, then any male may do so. But it is neccessary that the ghair mahram dons gloves when effecting the Tayammum.

Q. Janaazah Salaat was performed while the mayyit was positioned wrongly. Is the Salaat valid?
A. Yes, the Salaat is valid.

Q. If the mayyit is by error placed in the grave with its back towards the Qiblah, should the error be corrected after the grave has been closed up?
A. It is not permissible to open up the grave to rectify this wrong.

Q. A person comes late for Jumuah Salaat. He joins the Jamaat after reciting Takbeer Tahrimah just as the Imaam made one Salaam. He considers himself to be a Masbooq and rises to perform the two raka’ts. Is his Salaat valid?
A. His Jumuah Salaat is not valid. He has to perform Zuhr Salaat.