Tag Archives: Q&A

Are a Muslim Woman’s Non-Muslim Relatives Acceptable as Mahram for Traveling?

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In the Name of Allaah, the All Merciful, the Ever Merciful…

As reported by Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) and collected in the most authentic Hadeeth sources like al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) forbade believing women from traveling without a mahram.

A mahram is a woman’s close male family member, like her father, grandfather, son, grandson, brother, or uncle.

Traveling means to leave one’s city, by a distance considered according to local customs to be a journey, not just normal daily movement around and outside of the borders of one’s city.

In the West, a woman often accepts Islaam and thereafter faces the difficulty of being the only Muslim in her family. She may ask: How am I to implement this hadeeth? Since my immediate male relatives are disqualified from being my walee (guardian) in a marriage contract, are they also disqualified from being my mahram during a journey?

This issue was recently addressed by Shaykh Muhammad ‘Umar Baazmool (may Allaah preserve him), Professor of Higher Studies at Umm al-Qura University in Makkah. He stated: Continue reading →

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen on Removing Part of the Footwear and then Continuing to Wipe Over it

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In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

The Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) allowed residents to wipe over their footwear when performing wudhoo’ (instead of washing the feet) for a period of one day. Travelers are allowed to do so for three entire days. This is founded upon clear evidences from the Quran and the authentic Sunnah.

From the important issues of this gracious concession is that once the footwear is removed for any reason, the period of wiping over it ends, and a person may only wipe over it again once he puts the footwear back on in a state of purity (having already made wudhoo’).

One of our visitors asked about when there is a need to uncover only a small part of the foot just under the ankle, like to rub it, is that considered “removal” of the footwear or not?

The great scholar, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen [d.1421] – may Allaah have Mercy on him – was asked:

ما حكم خلع الشراب أو بعض منها ليحك بعض قدمه أو يزيل شيئاً في رجله كحجر صغير ونحوه؟ 

What is the ruling on removing the footwear or part of it in order to scratch part of the foot or remove something like a small pebble or anything similar (from inside of the footwear)?

The shaykh replied by saying:

إذا أدخل يديه من تحت الشراب (الجوارب) فلا بأس في ذلك ولا حرج ، أما إن خلعها فينظر إن خلع جزءاً يسيراً فلا يضر ، وإن خلع شيئاً كثيراً بحيث يظهر أكثر القدم فإنه يبطل المسح عليهما في المستقبل.

If he reaches in under the footwear with his hand, there is no problem with that, nothing wrong at all. However, if he removes it (the footwear), then we need to understand: If he only removed a small part of it, there is no harm (i.e. he may continue to wipe over it). If he removed a large part of it, exposing most of his foot, then his (period of) wiping ends at that time.

Source: Question #17 of his book, Fataawaa fil-Mas-h ‘alal-Khuffayn, as found on the official website of his charitable foundation (here).

Based on this fatwaa from Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have Mercy on him), a person may continue wiping over his footwear after uncovering a small part of the foot under the ankle, as mentioned in the original question, and Allaah knows best.

Written by: Moosaa Richardson

Shaykh Ibn Baaz on Giving a Mus-haf to a Christian

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In the Name of Allaah, the Compassionate, the Ever Merciful…

Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have Mercy on him), late Muftee of Saudi Arabia, was asked, “If a Christian requests a mus-haf from me, should I give it to him or not?” He replied:

You may not give him one, however, you can read the Qur’aan to him, so he could hear it. You could invite him to (the Religion of) Allaah and pray for his guidance, based on the Statement of Allaah, the Most High, in His Authoritative Book [what means]:

( And if any of the polytheists seek your protection, then grant him protection, so that he could hear the Speech of Allaah, then grant him passage safely. ) [9:6]

And the statement of His Messenger (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) [what means]:

“Do not travel with the Qur’aan to the land of the enemy, as I fear they could get a hold of it.” [Muslim]

This proves that a non-Muslim is not to be given a mus-haf, to avoid him degrading it or playing with it. However, he can be taught, have the Qur’aan read to him, advised, and prayed for. If he accepts Islam he can be given a mus-haf.

Furthermore, there is no problem in giving him some books of tafseer or hadeeth, if it is hoped that he might benefit from them. He may also be given some translations of the meanings of the Noble Qur’aan.

Source: Majmoo’ Fataawaa of Shaykh Ibn Baaz (6/469-470). [Arabic]

Translated by: Moosaa Richardson