Man wants to divorce his wife so that his friend can marry her

Question

Is it permissible for a person who has two wives to divorce one of his wives so that his close friend who is unmarried and whom he truly loves for the sake of Allah, can marry her? This is what one of the Companions did. The person who wishes to follow in this Companion's footsteps wants to do this purely for the sake of Allah and for no other reason. He wants to follow the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself” and he wants to be one of those who will be shaded under the throne of Allah on the Day of Judgment.

Answer

It is permissible for a man to divorce his wife if that is what he wants to do. 

However, this is not a recommended act. We do not know of all the details of what occurred between the Companions on that one isolated occasion when this took place. We just know that in one isolated instance, a man from the Ansâr in Madinah gave his brother in Islam from the emigrants the choice of one of his wives. We do not even know what the brother had discussed with his wives beforehand. We do not even know if it was his idea or the idea of one of his wives. These were very special circumstances. This was a time when the Muslims were in desperation and weakness and were fleeing from their homeland. The Prophet (peace be upon him) established bonds of brotherhood between the Muslims of Madinah and the Muslims fleeing from Mecca. This was a bond established by none other than the Prophet himself (peace be upon him). This story shows us just how serious the Muslims were about that special and quite unique bond. We should also bear in mind that the other brother declined the offer. 

We should realize that a man’s wife has a say in the matter. If she loves her husband, he will be hurting her greatly to even suggest such a thing to her. If he divorces her against her wishes and for no fault on her part, he is not showing her the respect that she deserves. Though Islam permits a man to divorce his wife, it does not encourage it. It recommends that a husband and wife do whatever they can to preserve the marriage bond, even when they are having problems with each other. In cases of difficulty, they should go for arbitration to try and attempt reconciliation before getting a divorce. 

Keep in mind that even if he divorces her, she does not have to marry the other man. She does not have to marry anyone she does not wish to marry. If her husband divorces her against her wishes in order to give her to someone else, she will be understandably resentful and it is highly unlikely that she would be willing to marry the other man. 

If a man who has two wives truly loves for his brother what he loves for himself, he will help his brother find a wife, pay his dowry on his behalf, and help him get on his feet if he is poor. This is the best way he can help him. 

And Allah knows best.

-islamtoday.net

Marrying a girl who was secretly married and had abortion

Question

I met a girl whom I want to marry and have children with. She is of good nature and is fit for me as I think that she can be a good in my life. However, her past bothers me. She used to like a boy in 2011, but the boy's grandmother did not like that girl as she was from a poor family. The girl left him, and another boy asked her to marry him. However, out of fear that their families might not agree to this, they gor married in secret. The boy assured her that he would ask his parents for a proper wedding. During this period, the girl got pregnant, but her husband saw something disturbing about her past and started asking her to get an abortion. He also said that he would divorce her as she was not 'pure'. The girl did not want an abortion but eventually did get one. Then the boy divorced her. After some time, that boy asked her for her forgiveness and asked her to marry him again. She did get married to her ex-husband again for the sake of her dead fetus, but she later came to know that he had no intention of keeping her but just wanted to have sex. After that, they got divorced again. Afterwards, that girl suffered through a lot as she is from a poor background but very intelligent in academics. After that, she started a new life to stabilize her family by looking for a job, but everyone tried to exploit her and harassed her and she left every single job as she did not want any man to come near her. In 2016, she met me. Our attraction for each other is not based on lust. We got in a relationship, and my parents are ready and her parents too. Before marriage, she told me all these things so that I already know about it in case any of these things come up in later life. She says that she loves me a lot. She regrets her past as she was fooled. She did everything for her husband, but he wanted her only for physical reasons. What is the Islamic ruling on this? I want to marry her so that I can save her. I can give her and her family some peace. I intend to forgive everything related to her past as it was before me and is between her and Allaah. Kindly reply to me asap. Thank you.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad  is His slave and Messenger.

What is important is the condition of this girl now; if she is righteous, then marry her. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet  said, “A woman is married for four reasons: her wealth, her family lineage, her beauty, and her religion. So choose the religious one, and you will prosper.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Her past sins do not prevent you from marrying her; there is no person who does not commit mistakes or who is not neglectful about the rights of his Lord.

What is important is that one returns to his Lord and follows the bad deed with a good deed so that the past sins will be forgiven. Allah says (what means): {But whoever repents after his wrongdoing and reforms, indeed, Allah will turn to him in forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 5:39]

Besides, Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet  said, “By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, were you not to commit sins, Allah would replace you with a people who would commit sins and then seek the forgiveness of Allah; and Allah would forgive them.” [Muslim]

Also, Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet  said, “Indeed all of the children of Adam commit sins, but the best of them are those who repent.” [At-Tirmithi]

However, it is not enough that you judge based on what appears to you of her condition; rather, you should ask the trustworthy people who know about her conduct, and if they say good things about her, then perform the Istikhaarah (guidance-seeking) prayer and ask Allah to guide you in this matter as He knows everything and He knows the consequences of things.

After this, we hope that Allah will facilitate things. It is said that the one who seeks Istikhaarah never loses, and the one who consults people never regrets.

If marriage is facilitated with her, then all the best, otherwise, cut every form of relationship with her in order to be safe from the devil and his temptation. Indeed, it is not permissible in Islam for a man to have an affectionate relationship with a non-Mahram (marriageable) woman.

We also point out the prohibition of abortion without a valid excuse, especially if the soul has been breathed into the fetus, as this constitutes unjustly killing a soul that Allah has forbidden to kill.

Allah knows best.

-islamweb.net

Forgetting to clean mouth & nose while performing ghusl

Question

Is a person's ghusl valid if he forgets to wash out his mouth and nose? If not, what should he do if he forgets? Must he perform his ghusl over again?

Answer

Rinsing the mouth (madmadah) and cleaning the nose by inhaling and exhaling water (istinshâq) are obligatory acts for both wudû’ and ghusl. This is because washing the face is obligatory in both wudû’ and ghusl and these acts constitute part of the washing of the face. 

This is the position of Ahmad b. Hanbal and the official ruling of the Hanbalî school of thought. A number other scholars have adopted this opinion as well. This is the strongest opinion. 

However, there are other scholarly opinions on this matter. 

It has been related from Ahmad b. Hanbal that cleaning the nose by inhaling and exhaling water (istinshâq) is obligatory but rinsing the mouth (madmadah) is not. 

A third opinion held by scholars is that both of these acts are obligatory in ghusl but neither are obligatory for wudû’. 

Another opinion is that neither of these acts are ever obligatory; rather they are Sunnah practices for both wudû’ and ghusl. This is the ruling adopted by the Shâfi`î and Mâlikî schools of law. 

It is not necessary for a person who forgets to clean his mouth and nose to perform the ghusl over again. It would be enough for him to simply rinse the mouth and nose. This is because it is not required while performing ghusl to carry out all of its actions in a particular sequence or without interruption, as long as this ghusl is being performed as purification from janâbah. 

And Allah knows best.

-islamtoday.net

Breaking the fast in the mosque before the adhan is called

Question

Is it from the sunnah that a fasting person has to hear the adhan before he breaks the fast of Ramadan? During Ramadan, the majority of the congregants at our mosque wait to hear the adhan before they break their fasts, sometimes five or more minutes after the Sun has fully set. In fact, those who follow the sunnah and break their fast immediately are looked upon as if they did something wrong.

Answer

What matters is that the Sun has fully set. People might prefer to wait for the adhân to be called in order to be extra certain that the Sun has set – and also to avoid having to stare at their watches. 

However, if it is known for certain that the adhân is being called considerably late, then a person may certainly break his or her fast before hearing the adhân. It is recommended to hasten breaking our fast after the Sun has set. 

`Umar relates that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “When the night comes from that direction and the daytime departs in that direction and the Sun sets, then the fasting person has broken his fast.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (1954) and Sahîh Muslim (1100)] 

Al-Bukhârî asserts that `Abû Sa`îd al-Khudrî used to break his fast as soon as the Sun’s disk disappeared over the horizon. 

However, if a person is at the mosque and knows that eating before the adhân is called will bring about discord or commotion in the community, then he or she should refrain from eating for the sake of avoiding discord (fitnah) among the Muslims. Avoiding discord is obligatory, while hastening to break the fast is merely recommended. 

And Allah knows best.

-islamtoday.net

Prayer of repentance & prostration of thanks

Question

Is there such a thing as a prayer of thanks? Is there a prayer of repentance?

Answer

I do not know of any prayer called a prayer of thanks. There are narrations about a prostration of thanks and about a prayer of repentance. 

As for the prayer of repentance, it is preferred for a person who commits a sin to pray two units of prayer and make true repentance to Allah. This is called the repentance prayer. 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whenever a servant commits a sin, then makes a proper wudû’ and prays two units of prayer and repents to Allah from that sin, Allah will accept his repentance.” [Musnad Ahmad with authentic line of transmission]. 

If a person receives good news, such as the birth of a new baby or glad tidings of victory for the Muslims, then he may prostrate to Allah in thanks. 

This prostration is similar to the one performed in prayer. In such a prostration one may say: Subhân Rabbî al-A`lâ, offer supplications, and praise Allah for the good news that he has received. 

When the Prophet (peace be upon him) heard good news, he used to prostrate in gratitude to Allah. Abû Bakr also prostrated when he learned that the false prophet Musaylimah had been killed in battle.

-islamtoday.net

Reciting the Qur`ân in less than 3 days

Question

I have heard from some people that we should not finish the recitation of the Qur`ân in less than three days. Is this correct?

Answer

`Abd Allah b. `Amr relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Fast three days a month.”

`Abd Allah said: “I can handle more than that.” 

This went on until (the Prophet, peace be upon him) said: “Fast one day and break your fast on the next.” 

Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Read the Qur’ân once a month.” 

`Abd Allah said: “I can handle more than that.” 

This went on until the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Then once in three days.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (1978)] 

In his commentary of Sahîh al-Bukhârî, Imam Ibn Hajar writes:

Abû Dâwûd and al-Tirmidhî have narrated an authentic narration from Yazîd b. `Abd Allah b. al-Shikhkhîr from `Abd Allah b. `Amr, from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that: “He will not understand the Qur’ân who reads it in less than three (days)”. 

There is a similar authentic narration from Ibn Mas`ûd that he said: “Read the Qur’ân in seven days. Do not do so in less than three (days).” 

`Amrah narrates from `Aishah that she said: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) never completed the Qur’ân in less than three (days)”. 

This view was adopted by Ahmad, Abû `Ubayd, Ishâq b. Râhawayh and others. However, it is authentically narrated that many of the Pious Predecessors used to read the Qur’ân in less than three days.

Imam al-Nawawî observes: “The majority of the scholars are of the opinion that there is no precisely defined time limit for this, and it depends upon the people and their abilities, and differs from individual to individual and from circumstance to circumstance.” 

And Allah knows best.

-islamtoday.net

'Worship Allah as though you see Him' – What does this mean?

Question

We are told by the Prophet (peace be upon him) that we must worship Allah as though we see him. Does this mean we should try to imagine what Allah looks like when we pray? How should we do that?

Answer

It is established in the hadîth that Gabriel asked the Prophet (peace be upon him): “Tell me about excellence in faith (ihsân).” 

He replied: “It is to worship Allah as though you see Him, and though you do not see Him, you know that He sees you.” [Sahîh al Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim] 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) describes excellence in faith by saying: “It is to worship Allah as though you see Him”, meaning that the worshipper engages in his worship with such acute awareness of the fact that he is presenting himself before his Lord that it is as though he sees Him. He will be absolutely sincere in his worship and his heart will be full of humility, awe, and fear. This implies that the worshipper will expend every effort in perfecting his worship. 

He further describes ihsân by saying: “…and though you do not see Him, you know that He sees you.” 

Some scholars, like Ibn Rajab in his work entitled Jâmi` al-`Ulûm wa al-Hikam, are of the opinion that there are two degrees of ihsân being indicated here, one stronger than the other. The strongest is to worship Allah as if you see him. If you cannot attain that level of sincerity and devotion, then at least when you worship Allah, be cognizant of the fact that He sees you. 

Other scholars see only one idea being conveyed. They regard the second statement (know that He sees you) to be the cause of the first (worship Allah as though you see Him). Ibn Rajab mentions this view as well. The idea here is that the way to attain the level of worshipping Allah as though you see him is to cultivate the awareness that Allah sees you. 

It is important to note that under no circumstances should this hadîth be understood to mean that Allah can be seen in this world. This is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “…as though you see Him”. 

And Allah knows best.

-islamtoday.net