Q: Is it permissible to grill a live fish? A: It is impermissible to swallow a live fish and disliked to grill it live because It is considered unnecessary torment. Source: Sharh al-Muntaha #seafood #food #cooking #Sharhalmuntaha

Q: Should the Imam pause after reading al-Fatihah? A: There are three pauses for the Imam in prayer. 1. Before al-Fatihah in the first rak'ah. 2. After reading al-Fatihah. This pause should be equal to al-Fatihah in lenght so the follower has time to recite al-Fatihah quietly. 3. After completing the second recital. This pause should be long enough for the follower to read a second chapter. Source: Sharh al-Muntaha #alFatiha #PauseinPrayer #SharhalMuntaha

Q: Should one recite fatiha in prayer behind the Imam according to the madhab? A: Reciting al-Fatiha is a pillar in each rak'ah of prayer and therefore must be recited by the Imam and person praying alone. The Imam will bare this responsibility for the follower for whom it is preferred to be recited during the Imam’s pause after it. This can be done even if he pauses simply to catch his breath. Breaking up Al-Fatiha over multiple pauses is not blameworthy. If the Imam does no

Q: Should one immediately say Amin after the Imam finishes or wait and finish reciting the fatiha after the Imam and then say Amin? A: Saying 'Amin' after al-Fatihah is recommended. It is pronounced with an elongated 'a' sound and if the 'mim' is doubled (Am-min) the prayer is invalidated. After concluding al-Fatihah there should be a brief pause before saying 'Amin' to distinguish it from the Quran. It is preferred that the Imam and the follower(s) say it aloud together in a

Q: Asalam walaykum sheikh. Does wearing invisalign braces (which totally covers the teeth), impede purification? Do they need to be removed for every wudu/ghusl? A: wa alaykum salaam. Great question. Swishing the water around in the mouth during wudu is of 2 levels. The obligation is to swish it around so that it comes in contact with a portion of the mouth. Mubalagha, which is sunnah, is to swish it around so that it comes in contact with all parts of the mouth. I would sugg

Q: Can I send my zakat al-mal to another country? A: It is preferred to distrubute your zakat al-mal in your local area. It is permissible to distribute it WITHIN the raduis permitted to shorten prayer i.e. 85 US Miles/138 KM. It is impermissible to distribute it further than that. Though it will fulfill the obligation, it is sinful unless there is a true need to do so. Such a need includes the absence of zakat recipients in your region or out of fear for your wealth. If you

Q: Are there any prayers that can be prayed during the prohibited times? A: The prohibited times include the following; 1. The time of Fajr until the sun rises the height of a spear above the horizon. 2. At the sun's zenith until it casts the slightest shadow to the East. 3. From completion of the Asr prayer until Maghrib. During these times it is not permissible i.e. haram to prayer or perform voluntary prayer of any kind/form such as sujud tilawah, eclipse prayer, greeting

Q: What is the ruling on fasting in Muharram? Should I fast the 9th and the 10th? A: It is recommended to fast Allah's month, al-Muharram due to the hadith, "The most virtuous prayer after the those obligated is prayer at night and the most virtuous fast after Ramadan is Allah's month al-Muharram". [Muslim] It is possible that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not fast a lot during the month due to some excuse or him not knowing of its virtue until the end of his life. Ibn

Q: Is it permissible for me to hold the Quran when I am praying? A: It is permissible to hold the Mushaf/Quran to read from during prayer and required if you have not memorized any portion thereof in order to perform it as prescribed. Source: Sharh al-Muntaha #Prayer #Quran #Mushaf #SharhalMuntaha #covid19

Q: Can I break my fast after having intended to fast the day due of unforseen travel? A: Yes, it is permissible to break your fast even after having inteded and begun the fast due to unforseen travel. You can break your fast once you leave pass the houses of your area of residence. It is however better not to break the fast to avoid this issue of difference among the scholars. Source: Sharh al-Muntaha #travel #Fasting #SharhalMuntaha

Q: Is it allowed to travel in order to break the fast? There is a chili cook-off out of town I want to go to. A: No, it is not permitted to travel with the intention of breaking that fast. In fact, this type of travel is sinful as well as breaking the fast in this case. It is haram to break the fast due to the lack of a legitimate excuse and the travel is haram becuase it has now become the means by which you seek to break your fast. Source: Sharh al-Muntaha #Fasting #travel

Q: Can I fast while traveling? I heart it was okay. A: Technically yes, you can fast while traveling. It is however disliked. It is actually preferred to break your fast while traveling even if the travel is not difficult due to it being a concession afforded to the faithful from Allah. Allah loves when you accept His concesions. Source: Sharh al-Muntaha #Fasting #travel #SharhalMuntaha

Q: My parents are very old and find it too difficult to fast. Are they allowed to break their fast in Ramadan? A: Yes. If your parents are very old and find it VERY difficult to fast, they can break their fast and feed a poor person for every day they miss as a replacement. The amount of food required to give is equivalent to the kafarah/expiation ( 1 mudd of wheat or half saa' of other staple food types). The ruling for someone afflicted with a chronic/terminal illness is th

Q: I intentionally broke my fast and then decided to travel, am I still afforded the concession to break my fast as a traveler? A: It is impermissible to break your fast without a legitimate excuse. If you intetionally broke your fast with out an excuse you must continue to fast the remainder of the day even if you decide to travel as a from of reprimand and make up the day later. This is also the case of a woman who intentionally breaks her fast, without a legitimate excuse,

Q: What is the ruling on talking during the Adhan? A: The Adhan and the Iqamah must be called in a relatively consecutive manner and therefore a little speech or even a little silence without need during it is disliked except for returning the greeting of salaam. Impermissible speech such as backbiting invalidates it. Source: Sharh al-Muntaha #SharhalMuntaha #Adhan #Iqamah

Q: Is it okay if the Imam makes qunoot in Fajr prayer? If not, what should I do? The Imam makes it everyday. A: It is disliked to make qunut in the obligatory prayers including Fajr. The only exception is the main Imam (the ruler) during times of great strife and hardship. He is recommended to make qunut in the obligatory prayers except for Jumuah. If you find yourself praying behind an Imam who regularly makes qunut in Fajr, you should follow him. The Imam was made to be fo

Q: I want to pray more than the 5 prayers. How many extra prayers can I make? A: There are many extra prayers you can make. The best are those offered in congregation like the eclipse prayer, rain prayer, tarawih, and witr. Then you can focus on the highly recommended prayers such as 2 rakahs before Fajr, 2 after Maghrib, then 2 before and 2 after Zuhr, and 2 after Isha. The previous 10 rakahs are known as sunnah ratibah and can be made up. When you master those you can add a

Q: When I go to the masjid, I see people holding their hands in different places during prayer. Which is correct? A: It is preferred that you grasp your left wrist with your right hand and place them under your navel. Sources: Sharh al-Muntaha #SharhalMuntaha #Navel

Q: Right after I said the takbiratul Ihram for Fajr the timer for its end went off, but I continued and finished the prayer. Was it valid? A: It’s best to offer the prayer just after its time begins however, it is caught with the takbiratul ihram made during its time even if moments before it ends. The prayer is not void if the time then runs out just after. Source: Sharh al-Muntaha #Fajr #Prayer #SharhalMuntaha

Assalamu alaykum. Can the dead Muslims see or hear us or know about our state or something similar? I heard something like that and it kinda freaks me out. Can they see us in the bathroom? Please teach me. Wa ‘alaykum al-salam. In general, yes. The deceased can hear and some say they can see and are made aware of our circumstances. They are happy with our good conditions and anguished with the bad. They know when we visit their graves and hear our salaams. Don’t be freaked