Is Salah Not Accepted for 40 Days After Mentioning a Haram Animal?

Questions and Answers from the Madani Muzakarah

1) Salah not accepted for 40 days for mentioning a haram animal

Q: Is salah not accepted for 40 days after mentioning a haram animal’s name?

A: Dogs and cats are also haram to consume. Yet, there is one specific animal regarding which a misconception is widespread amongst people. Perhaps it is for this reason that the questioner has not specified its name. The name of this animal appears in the Quran, i.e., خنزیر (swine). One is neither sinful for saying the word swine/pig nor is his ablution invalidated.[1]

2) Answerability of a teacher when students cannot remember lessons

Q: Will a teacher be held answerable if students cannot remember their lessons? Please mention a litany for such students to help them keep their studies memorised.

A: If a teacher expends all his efforts but students still cannot remember their lessons, the former is not at fault. Some are quick learners and others not so much. Some have strong memories and others do not. A teacher should continue to strive to the best of his ability and avoid being lazy or negligent.  

To strengthen memory in a child or adult, یَاعَلِیْمُ should be recited 7 times. Alongside this, recite بِسْمِ اللہِ with سُوْرَۃُ اَلَمْ نَشْرَح 21 times. One should then blow onto water and give this to whoever suffers from weak memory. اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه Their memory will become strong.[2]

3) Precautions with children

Q: Some children hide in cupboards and other tight spaces whilst playing. What do you make of this?

A: Children should not hide in wardrobes, empty boxes, fridges, or empty tanks. They can sometimes become entrapped, losing oxygen in the process and endangering their lives. They should not even peer inside a water tank, in fact. If they happen to fall in, they could drown in no time. There is similar risk when they look out of a window from a balcony, due to the danger of falling.[3]

4) Passing under the shadow of the Quran when embarking on a journey

Q: How is it for a person to pass under the shadow of the Quran when leaving on a journey?

A: It is permissible.[4]

5) Qurbānī of one who has not performed Ꜥaqīqa

Q: If a person has not performed Ꜥaqīqa, can he perform qurbānī? Also, when is qurbānī wājib, and can Ꜥaqīqa be performed within a qurbānī animal?

A: Whoever has not performed Ꜥaqīqa can still do Qurbānī. As for qurbānī, it becomes wājib with its conditions. If it is wājib upon somebody and he does not perform it, he will be sinful. Yet, not performing Ꜥaqīqa does not make one sinful, as it is a recommended (mustaḥabb) act.

An Ꜥaqīqa portion may be included in a large qurbānī animal which itself consists of seven shares. Both will be considered performed in this scenario. For further information, read the following booklets from Maktabat al-Madinah: Piebald Horse Rider and Questions and Answers regarding ꜤAqīqa. اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه You will benefit greatly.[5]

6) The water drunk by a cow

Q: What is the ruling of water from which a crow has drunk?

A: Water and food from which birds of prey, including crows, eagles, and shikras have partaken from, is disliked (makrūh) to consume. An affluent person should not make use of such food and water. Yet, if a poor person makes use of it, there is no dislike.[6]

7) Performing qurbānī despite being in debt

Q: If a person is in debt, may he perform qurbānī?

A: Qurbānī will be valid if performed in such a scenario, even if one does not possess the required niṣāb amount after spending money on this. Such a person will not be sinful. Yet, people will speak of him negatively and he will be defamed in his locality. They will say, “Look, he owes money but instead did qurbānī/ʿumrah/ḥajj.” One should first strive to fulfil his debt.[7]

8) Inscribing the name of Allah and ṣalāt upon the Prophet on a vehicle

Q: Can one write the name of Allah and ṣalāt upon the Prophet on a vehicle? Will this be deemed disrespectful?

A: It can be written. There is no disrespect in this. What is considered disrespectful must be considered in the context of common practice. For example, the Quran is kept on the ground floor of a building whilst people walk on the floor above, and this is not deemed disrespectful. Similarly, sacred words are present in buses, whilst people sit on the roof; this is not bad manners either.[8]

9) A young child’s slaughtering of an animal

Q: Can a young child slaughter a qurbānī goat?

A: Whether qurbānī or any other halal animal; if a child understands the slaughtering process, he may slaughter the animal in the name of Allah.[9]

10) Slaughter of a goat born on Eid al-Aḍḥā

Q: Can a goat born on the first day of Eid al-Aḍḥā be slaughtered on the same day of the following year?

A: A goat born at 12pm on the first day of Eid al-Aḍḥā will be one year of age at 12pm the following Eid al-Aḍḥā. This means it can be slaughtered (anytime) from after 12pm until before maghrib on the third day of slaughter. The slaughtering of a qurbānī animal on the day of its birth in the way of Allah; this is extremely praiseworthy, and animals sacrificed in the way of Allah are blessed.[10]